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| South West Tasmania | |
|---|---|
| Name | South West Tasmania |
| Caption | Satellite composite of remote southwest Tasmania |
| Location | Tasmania |
| Area km2 | 25000 |
| Governing body | Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service |
South West Tasmania is a vast, remote region of Tasmania noted for its rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, and extensive wilderness values. The area contains internationally significant reserves and has been the focus of major environmental campaigns and scientific research. It is bounded by notable features including the Gordon River, Franklin River, and the Southern Ocean coast.
The region includes the West Coast Range, the Arthur Range, the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, and the Southwest National Park, forming part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Major river systems include the Gordon River, Franklin River, Huon River, and Serpentine River. Prominent mountains and peaks include Mount Field, Mount Ossa, Precipitous Bluff, Mount Anne, and features such as Lake Pedder and Bathurst Harbour. Coastal landmarks include South East Cape, Port Davey, and Melaleuca (Tasmania). Surrounding towns and access points are Strahan, Tasmania, Queenstown, Tasmania, Derwent Bridge, and Huonville.
Geologically, the area preserves rocks of the Precambrian and Cambrian age, with extensive occurrences of Jurassic dolerite columns and Precambrian metasediments of the Gondwana margin. Tectonic settings relate to the dismemberment of Gondwana and the assembly of Pangea. Glacial geomorphology is evident in cirques and moraines associated with the Pleistocene glaciations. The climate is dominated by a maritime Roaring Forties influence producing high rainfall, strong westerly winds, and cool temperatures, which are comparable to conditions studied at Macquarie Island and Heard Island. Weather systems are driven by the Southern Ocean and interact with the Tasman Sea and the Antarctic circumpolar current.
Southwest ecosystems include cool temperate rainforests with species such as Nothofagus cunninghamii and Eucalyptus regnans elsewhere in Tasmania, buttongrass moorlands, alpine heathlands, and myrtaceous scrub. Fauna includes endemic marsupials like the Tasmanian devil, Eastern barred bandicoot, and remnant populations of the Thylacine historically; birds include Orange-bellied parrot, Forty-spotted pardalote, and seabirds such as Albatrosses frequenting nearby oceans. Freshwater biota inhabit the Gordon River and Franklin River catchments. Conservation status of the area informed the listing of the Tasmanian Wilderness as a World Heritage Site, and has been the focus of campaigns by Gordon Franklin River Campaign allies, environmental organizations like the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and Wilderness Society (Australia). Scientific studies have involved institutions such as the University of Tasmania, the Australian National University, and the CSIRO.
Aboriginal presence is associated with the Melaleuca Aboriginal site, with connections to the Nuenonne and other Tasmanian Aboriginal groups recorded in ethnographic sources including writings by George Augustus Robinson. Archaeological evidence from shell middens and artefacts links to broader patterns examined by researchers such as Rhys Jones and Allan McEvey. European exploration involved figures like Abel Tasman, James Cook (through later British surveys), and Victorian-era sealers and botanists including Joseph Hooker and Robert Brown. 20th-century history features hydroelectric proposals and political events such as the dispute involving the Gordon-below-Franklin Dam and legal actions connected to the High Court of Australia and the Fraser Government, which catalyzed national conservation movements and legislation including involvement by the Australian Heritage Commission.
Major protected areas include the Southwest National Park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and smaller reserves managed by the Parks Australia and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Management plans have been contested in forums involving the Federal Court of Australia, the High Court of Australia, the Australian Conservation Foundation, and state authorities such as the Tasmanian Government and its departments. International recognition came through UNESCO inscription processes advised by agencies like the Australian Heritage Commission and monitored by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
Access to the region is via tracks, rivers, and airstrips at sites including Melaleuca (Tasmania), with roadheads at Strahan, Tasmania and Derwent Bridge. Recreational activities include wilderness trekking on the Overland Track (adjacent), river kayaking on the Franklin River, sea kayaking in Bathurst Harbour, bushwalking to Mount Anne and Precipitous Bluff, and specialist fishing and birdwatching trips organized by operators in Strahan, Tasmania. Aviation operators and organizations such as the Tasmanian Helicopters and local guides facilitate access for researchers from institutions like the University of Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Division for comparative studies.
Economic interests historically involved mining at Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations in Queenstown, Tasmania, timber harvesting by companies such as Hydro Tasmania-related supply chains, and proposed hydroelectric schemes on the Gordon River and Franklin River which sparked the Gordon-below-Franklin Dam controversy. Contemporary economic activities emphasize eco-tourism provided by operators in Strahan, Tasmania and heritage interpretation linked to sites like Sarah Island (Tasmania) and the West Coast Wilderness Railway. Research funding and conservation employment derive from institutions including the Australian Research Council, the University of Tasmania, and environmental NGOs like the Wilderness Society (Australia) and the World Wildlife Fund.