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| Strathgordon, Tasmania | |
|---|---|
| Name | Strathgordon |
| State | Tasmania |
| Type | Town |
| Established | 1960s |
| Population | 9 (2016) |
| Postcode | 7468 |
| Lga | Derwent Valley Council |
| Region | South West Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 42°48′S 146°23′E |
Strathgordon, Tasmania Strathgordon is a remote settlement on the south-western fringe of Tasmania, Australia, established to support hydroelectric development. The locality functions as a service and residential base for large-scale projects and protected areas and is linked historically and operationally to hydroelectric schemes on the Gordon River and King River. It lies within striking distance of major Tasmanian wilderness landmarks and conservation areas.
Strathgordon originated in the 1960s amid the expansion of the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania) and the construction of the Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder augmentation projects. The town was purpose-built to house workers from Comalco, contractors associated with British Hydro, and personnel coordinating with the Australian Conservation Foundation and local administrations such as the Derwent Valley Council. Development of the site intersected with high-profile disputes involving activists aligned with figures from the Environmental movement in Australia and protests that drew attention from politicians in the Tasmanian Parliament and federal legislators in the Australian House of Representatives. After major construction phases, the resident workforce declined, and the locality became a small, permanent community linked to ongoing operations managed by entities descended from the original hydroelectric authorities, including successors within the Tasmanian energy sector such as Hydro Tasmania.
Strathgordon lies on the edge of the South West Wilderness and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, adjacent to impoundments on the Gordon River and near the headwaters feeding the Franklin River and Huon River. The surrounding landscape features temperate Tasmanian rainforest stands dominated by myrtles and eucalyptus and buttongrass plains toward coastal ranges like the Arthur Range. The climate is maritime cool temperate with high annual precipitation influenced by Roaring Forties westerlies; weather patterns resemble those recorded at nearby stations such as Mount Read and Lake St Clair, with frequent low cloud, heavy rainfall, and mild temperatures compared to mainland Australian interiors.
The local economy is anchored by hydroelectric infrastructure and associated operations originating from projects like the Gordon Dam and facilities overseen by Hydro Tasmania. Employment historically included construction contractors, logistics firms, and service providers linked to maintenance of power stations and transmission assets connecting to Tasmania’s grid via substations and lines associated with entities like Aurora Energy. Forestry interests and mineral exploration historically intersected with regional activity through companies such as Comalco and mining proponents who lobbied state ministers in the Tasmanian Government. Today, economic activity also involves park management agencies operating under frameworks influenced by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area listing and conservation organizations including the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Census counts have recorded a very small permanent population, with figures such as nine residents reported in the 2016 national census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The resident profile historically skewed toward workers linked to the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania) and their families, with subsequent shifts toward personnel engaged by Hydro Tasmania, tour operators servicing visitors to the South West Wilderness, and employees of conservation bodies like the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Demographic trends reflect the locality’s function as a service hub rather than an expanding township, with seasonal fluctuations tied to tourism and maintenance schedules.
Strathgordon is accessed primarily via the Gordon River Road (also known as the Lake Pedder Road), connecting to the Lyell Highway and towns such as Queenstown, Tasmania and Gordonvale, Tasmania in the broader west coast network. The settlement contains essential utilities associated with hydroelectric operations, staff accommodation, and visitor facilities maintained by agencies linked to Hydro Tasmania and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. There is no public airport; aerial access has historically involved charter operators based in regional centers like Hobart and Devonport. Road access can be seasonal and weather-dependent, influenced by remoteness factors similar to those affecting transport to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Strathgordon sits at the interface of internationally significant conservation areas, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and adjacent reserves managed under Tasmanian legislation and national frameworks involving the Australian Heritage Commission (predecessor bodies) and contemporary heritage bodies. The locality’s environmental context has been central to controversies involving the flooding of Lake Pedder in the 1970s and campaigns by conservationists such as those associated with the Franklin River campaign and organizations like the Tasmanian Wilderness Society. Current management balances hydroelectric operations with protections for endemic flora and fauna, including species monitored by the Threatened Species Section (DPIPWE) and research programs run in cooperation with institutions such as the University of Tasmania.
Despite remoteness, Strathgordon functions as a gateway for visitors to attractions including boat cruises on the Gordon River, access to viewpoints over Lake Pedder, and treks into the South West Wilderness and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Tourism services are provided by operators linked to regional tourism bodies such as Tourism Tasmania and local guides familiar with routes to landmarks like the Arthur Range and historic sites tied to hydroelectric construction. Recreational activities include bushwalking, birdwatching for species catalogued by the Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club, and interpretive visits organized in collaboration with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Category:Towns in Tasmania