TAMAR ISLAND

Tamar Island (located in the Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve, just off the West Tamar Highway between Riverside and Legana) was first noted by Europeans in 1804, when it was named “Upper Island.” Tamar Island has always been crown land, but over the years has been used for a variety of purposes, and sometimes privately leased. 

Convict labour was used to reclaim land in the wetland area as early as the 1820s.  In the 1880s it became the base for an on-going dredging operation to allow ships better access to the Launceston port. (This is obviously not a new issue). Derelict ships and barges were also used to try and block part of the river and increase the flow in the main channel. By this time, the island was known as “Pig Island.”

There was a report in The Daily Telegraph (Launceston) in 1900, that mentioned a man with a suspected case of bubonic plague, being confined to “Pig Island.” This seems to have been a pragmatic rather than planned response to the perceived threat.

THE BOARDWALK TO TAMAR ISLAND

As time went on, the recreational potential of the island was recognized. In 1906 there was a privately funded proposal to erect tea rooms and another name change to “Tamar Island” ensued. (Other suggested names included Panogana (white mud),and Kuawatto (afternoon) but the minister had the final say, and clearly favoured the literal). Various expensive ornamental trees were planted, but eventually the plans foundered due to the unforeseen costs involved in building a suitable jetty. By 1917, such plans had been abandoned but despite applications, the Marine Board was reluctant to lease the ground for grazing as livestock would likely destroy the trees.

There are many stories associated with the island. I'ts easy to find the old oak tree that has now all but consumed, a rusted plough once left behind, legend has it, by a grief-stricken widowed farmer who abandoned the land. and you won't find it hard to find lots of references on-line to Bruno the marooned bull.

The Tasmanian state government purchased it in the 1980s, and incorporated it into the Tamar River Conservation Area

https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/wetlands-australia/national-wetlands-update-february-2012-15 contains interesting information regarding the wetlands of which Tamar Island is an integral part.

The whole wetlands area is a photographer's dream – its great on a sunny day, but in winter, when the trees are bare, the tide is low and the skies are dark and threatening its even better!