View source for Tasman Peninsula

{{Short description|Peninsula on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English |date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox landform
| water             = 
| name              = Tasman Peninsula
| other_name        = Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula
| photo             = The Totem Pole, Cape Huay.jpg
| photo_caption     = The Totem Pole, Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula. The Lanterns and the Hippolyte Rocks are visible behind.
| map_image         = Tasman Peninlsula map.png
| map_caption       = Location in South-eastern [[Tasmania]]
| elevation_ft      = 
| elevation_ref     = 
| location          = South-eastern [[Tasmania]], [[Australia]] 
| range             = 
| coordinates       = {{coord|43|05|24|S|147|50|24|E|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| length            = 
| width             = 
| area              = {{convert|660|km2|abbr=on}}
| topo              =  
| type              = [[Dolerite]]
| age               = 
| volcanic_arc/belt = 
| last_eruption     = 
| operator          = 
| designation       = {{bulleted list|[[Tasman National Park]]|[[World Heritage Site]] (part)}}
| website           = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
The '''Tasman Peninsula''', officially '''Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula''',<ref>{{Gazette TAS|title=Place Name Assignments List No. 561|issue=22089|page=489|date=2 June 2021|url=https://www.gazette.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/132488/22089-_-Gazette_2_June_2021.pdf|access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> is a [[peninsula]] located in south-east [[Tasmania]], [[Australia]], approximately {{convert|75|km|mi|abbr=on}} by the [[Arthur Highway]], south-east of [[Hobart]].

The Tasman Peninsula lies south and west of [[Forestier Peninsula]], to which it connects via an [[isthmus]] called [[Eaglehawk Neck]]. This in turn is joined to the rest of Tasmania by an isthmus called [[East Bay Neck]], near the town of [[Dunalley, Tasmania|Dunalley]], approximately {{convert|60|km}} by road from Hobart. The peninsula is surrounded by water; to the north by [[Norfolk Bay]], to the northwest by [[Frederick Henry Bay]], to the west and south by [[Storm Bay]], and to the east by the [[Tasman Sea]].

==Description==
Many smaller towns are also located on the Tasman Peninsula, the largest of which are [[Nubeena, Tasmania|Nubeena]] and [[Koonya, Tasmania|Koonya]]. Smaller centres include Premaydena, Highcroft and Stormlea. The Conservation Park, located on the main highway at Taranna, is a popular local visitor attraction along with the [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] [[Australian Convict Sites|Port Arthur Historic Site]] and a number of beaches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tasmanregion.com.au/ |title=Tasman Region |publisher=Port Arthur and Tasman Tourism Association |access-date=7 August 2015 |archive-date=1 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101220716/http://www.tasmanregion.com.au/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Local Government Areas of Tasmania|local government area]] is the [[Tasman Council]]. The area of the peninsula and of the local government area is {{convert|660|km2}}.

==History==
The original name for the area is Turrakana. The Aboriginal inhabitants of this area preceding European arrival were the [[Tasmanian Aborigines|Pydairrerme]] people. Their territory was what is now known as the Tasman and Forestier peninsulas. The [[Tasmanian Aborigines|Pydairrerme]] people were a part of the larger Paredarerme language group, whose territory covered a large area of the east coast of Tasmania. The area was named after [[Netherlands|Dutch]] explorer [[Abel Tasman]] after colonisation but was dual named as of March 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-31|title=30 Aboriginal men were killed at 'Suicide Bay' — now it's being renamed|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-01/suicide-bay-renamed-cape-grim-tasmanian-aboriginal-massacre/100041282|access-date=2021-04-01|website=abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The first European settlement of the peninsula was {{TAScity|Port Arthur}} in the early 1830s.  It was selected as a [[penal colony|penal settlement]] because it was geographically isolated from the rest of the colony but more easily reachable by sea than the other place of secondary banishment, [[Macquarie Harbour]] on the west coast, which could then be closed down.  It also had excellent supplies of timber for shipbuilding and general construction work, and a deep sheltered harbour where visiting British warships could be repaired.  Its inaccessibility was enhanced by having Eaglehawk Neck lined with guards and guard dogs, to prevent the escape of any convicts. A small number did escape, including the bushranger [[Martin Cash]].

The [[Coal Mines Historic Site]], located near the north tip west of the peninsula, was originally the site of a convict-operated coal mine.

The penal settlement of Port Arthur is now a tourist attraction.  As in most of the rest of the state, tourism is a major industry. Bushwalking is also popular in the often rugged terrain, particularly picturesque spots being [[Cape Raoul]] and [[Cape Pillar]] at the extreme south-west and south-east ends of the peninsula, separated by the entrance to Port Arthur.

===Local industry===
In the era between the convict settlement and the rise of the modern tourist industry, people in the area were mostly engaged in the timber industry and fishing.  The terrain and soil types impeded large-scale agriculture, although orcharding and general farming was and is conducted in suitable locations.  The region remained highly isolated until the introduction of regular river steamer services between it and Hobart in the 1880s - they were further encouraged by the tourist industry to Port Arthur that began when overseas steamships began to call into Hobart, also during the 1880s.  During the period 1900-1930s, the main operator servicing the area was the Huon Channel & Peninsula Steamship Company, owners of several vessels including the extant ''[[MV Cartela]]''.

==Environment==
[[File:TASMAN ARCH, TASMAN PENINSULA, TASMANIA.jpg|thumb|Tasman arch and littoral chasm, [[Tasman National Park]].]]

===Plants===
The rare [[Allocasuarina crassa|Cape Pillar sheoak]] is a shrub or small tree found only in the Tasman National Park where it is restricted to the Cape Pillar area of the Tasman Peninsula and to Tasman Island.<ref name=tft>{{cite web |url= http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/SROS-6VH35M/$FILE/Allocasuarina%20crassa.pdf |title=Allocasuarina crassa |access-date=3 November 2011 |work=Threatened Flora of Tasmania |publisher= Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania }}</ref>

===Birds===
The peninsula forms part of the [[South-east Tasmania Important Bird Area]], identified as such by [[BirdLife International]] because of its importance in the conservation of a range of woodland birds, especially the [[endangered]] [[swift parrot]] and [[forty-spotted pardalote]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: South-east Tasmania |access-date=13 October 2011 |work=Birdata |publisher=Birds Australia |archive-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722071823/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Tasmanian devil===
While the region is best known for its convict history it is now the key area in the battle to save the [[Tasmanian devil]] from extinction from a new type of [[Clonally transmissible cancer|contagious cancer]] called [[devil facial tumour disease]] (DFTD). The isolation from the Tasmanian mainland, where DFTD is running unchecked and has killed more than half of all devils, is ideal for maintaining a healthy wild Tasmanian devil population in a project that involves the local Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park at Taranna and government and university scientists.

===Coastline===
The rugged coastline has been the scene of a number of shipwrecks.  Two large seagoing steamers have sunk after hitting the [[Hippolyte Rocks]] off its east coast - the ''Tasman'' in 1883 and the ''Nord'' in 1915.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-21/diving-the-hippolyte-rocks-tasmania-reef/103710344 Below the Hippolyte Rocks on the Tasman Peninsula lies a colourful reef full of coral, sponges and fish] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'', 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.</ref> Munroe Bight to the north of Cape Pillar is named after the former American barque ''James Munroe'' wrecked there in 1850.

The Tasman Peninsula is well known for its rugged eastern coastline, and much of it is now the [[Tasman National Park]]. At [[Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania|Eaglehawk Neck]] are many strange rock formations, including The Devils Kitchen, Tasman's Arch, Blow Hole and the [[Tessellated Pavement]]. Further south are the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere, rising {{convert|300|m|ft}} above the Tasman Sea at [[Cape Pillar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/national-parks-and-wilderness/tasman-national-park |title=Tasman National Park |work=Discover Tasmania |publisher=Tourism Tasmania |access-date=7 August 2015 }}</ref>

The peninsula has notable surf spots at [[Cape Raoul]], [[Roaring Beach]] and [[Shipstern Bluff]].

A historical survey map is available which outlines the geology and vegetation of the Tasman Peninsula, [[Forestier Peninsula]] and south east from the [[Coal River (Tasmania)|Coal River]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stors.tas.gov.au/AF396-1-1086|title=Libraries Tasmania - AF396-1-1086}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Tessellated Pavement Sunrise Landscape.jpg|[[Tessellated pavement]] natural rock formation
File:Fossil Bay Seascape.jpg|Fossil Bay at sunset.
File:Cape Raoul from Lookout.jpg|[[Dolerite]] columns of Cape Raoul.
File:Pillars of Cape Raoul 2.jpg|Columns at the tip of the cape.
File:Tasman Island and Tasman Peninsula from Cape Raoul.JPG|[[Tasman Island]] and Tasman Peninsula from Cape Raoul.
File:CAPE RAOUL, TASMAN NATIONAL PARK.jpg|Tip of the cape from the sea.
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Stack|{{Commons category|Tasman Peninsula}}{{Portal|Australia}}}}
* [[Geography of Tasmania]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |author1=Storey, Shirley |author2=Storey, Peter |date=1990 |title=Tasman tracks: 25 walks on the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas |publisher=Koonya Press |isbn=0-6460-1870-1 }}

{{South East Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
{{East Coast Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tasman Peninsula| ]]
[[Category:East Coast Tasmania]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Tasmania]]
[[Category:Tasman National Park]]