Strahan, Tasmania
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Municipality of West Coast Local Government Areas of Tasmania | |
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Strahan (pronounced "straw-n", Template:Coor dm) is a small town on the West Coast of Tasmania, Australia.
Originally developed as a port of access for the mining settlements in the area, Strahan was a vital location for the timber industry that existed around Macquarie Harbour. For a substantial part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century it also was port for regular shipping of passengers and cargo.
It also has been port to a small fishing fleet that braves the west coast conditions and Hells gates.
The Huon Pine industry that utilised stands around the harbour and up the tributary rivers - including King River, the Franklin River and the Gordon River.
Strahan is now the main tourist centre of West Coast. Strahan is located on the northern shore of Macquarie Harbour across the bay from Regatta Point, the terminus of the recently reconstructed West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Strahan is also the location of the main west coast airport - Strahan Airport, and the Automatic Weather Station at the airport is an important western weather observation point on land in Tasmania.
Strahan is the base for boat trips to Sarah Island and the lower Gordon River.
It is also the home of the Round Earth Theatre Company, which conducts explanatory tours of Sarah Island and also has produced a daily enactment/play about Sarah Island.