Introduction
Town in Tasmania, AustraliaTown in Tasmania, AustraliaHuonvilleTownHuonville township from Scenic HillHuonvilleCoordinates: 43°01′50″S 147°02′55″E / 43.03056°S 147.04861°E / -43.03056; 147.04861CountryAustraliaStateTasmaniaLGAHuon Valley CouncilLocation
17 km (11 mi) from Cygnet
22 km (14 mi) from Geeveston
38 km (24 mi) from Hobart
Established1891Government • State electorateFranklin • Federal divisionFranklinPopulation • Total3,002 (2021 census)Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST) • Summer (DST)UTC+11 (AEDT)Postcode7109Mean max temp17.1 °C (62.8 °F)Mean min temp5.8 °C (42.4 °F)Annual rainfall744.7 mm (29.32 in)
Huonville (/ˈhjuːɒnvɪl/) HYOO-on-vil is a town located on the banks of the Huon River in the Huon Valley, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. It serves as the administrative centre of the Huon Valley Council and is the largest town in the Huon Valley region. Situated approximately 38 kilometres south of the state capital, Hobart, Huonville acts as a gateway to Tasmania’s wilderness areas and the Southwest National Park.
The town is historically significant for its role in Tasmania's apple-growing industry, earning the Huon Valley the nickname "Golden Valley" due to its production of Golden Delicious apples. While the apple industry has declined, Huonville remains an important agricultural hub, now also known for aquaculture, including salmon farming, and for tourism. As the most centrally located township in the Huon Valley, Huonville serves as a hub for visitors exploring the region’s scenic landscapes, artisanal food and drink, and outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and fishing.
Huonville has a population of 3,002 according to the 2021 census. It is known for its proximity to the Huon Highway, which connects the town to nearby communities and Hobart, making it a central regional township for transport and trade. The township has historically faced environmental challenges, including vulnerability to floods and bushfires, which have affected the town in recent years. Despite these challenges, Huonville continues to thrive as a hub for eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture, preserving its rural heritage while adapting to modern economic and environmental conditions.
History
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Grand Hotel, Huonville, 1940s
Before European settlement, the area now known as Huonville and the surrounding Huon Valley was home to the Mellukerdee people, one of the First Nations groups of southern Tasmania. Greatly residing along the banks of the Huon River, the Mellukerdee people's connection to the land and waterway formed an integral part of their daily life, relying on its rich resources for fishing, hunting, and cultural practices. European colonisation, beginning in the early 19th century, severely disrupted the Mellukerdee way of life, and many were displaced from their lands as British settlers established farming and logging operations in the valley.
European exploration of the Huon River began in 1792, led by Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux during his expedition to search for the missing French explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse. The river was named by d'Entrecasteaux in honour of his second-in-command, Captain Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec. Settlement in the region began in the 1840s, with William and Thomas Walton among the first settlers to establish farms in the fertile valley.
Huonville, initially a smaller settlement, grew around the key bridge crossing the Huon River, which made it a strategic location for transport and trade. While the nearby township of Ranelagh was initially planned as the central settlement, Huonville developed into a bustling centre of the Huon Valley and was officially declared a town in 1891.
Apple production[edit]
See also: Tree Pull Scheme
By the late 19th century, apple growing became the dominant agricultural activity in the Huon Valley. The region’s fertile soils and temperate climate were ideal for growing apples, and Huonville played a central role in processing and distributing the fruit. Throughout the 20th century, the valley became known as the "Apple Bowl of Tasmania", with apples being one of Tasmania’s key exports. At its peak, Huonville and the surrounding areas produced 83% of Tasmania’s apples, and the industry was so prominent that Tasmania earned the nickname "The Apple Isle".
Apple production reached its height in the mid-20th century, when apples were exported globally, particularly to the United Kingdom. However, the industry began to decline in the latter half of the century due to a combination of factors, including changing global trade policies, competition from other apple-producing regions, and a reduction in demand from traditional markets.
Despite the decline, apple orchards remain an important part of the Huon Valley's economy, and Huonville continues to celebrate its apple-growing heritage. The town hosts the annual Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival, which includes a traditional “wassailing” ceremony to bless the apple trees, and it has become a centre for boutique cider production in Tasmania.
The town has also faced environmental challenges, including record floods in 2016 and significant bushfires in 2019, which have highlighted the region’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
