Branxholm is a small town in northeastern Tasmania

Tasmania

Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...

. Located 93 km north east of Launceston on the Tasman Highway.

Branxholm is a typical north-east Tasmania timber town nestled into the rolling hills. It is notable for its saw mills and its hop fields. It has a sprawling street pattern which makes the small town spread across the valley floor.

HIstory

The area was first settled by James Reid Scott who named it after a small village in his native Scotland. By 1870 there were only three buildings in the valley but three years later, with the discovery of tin, a shanty town had grown up. By 1877 the population was around 300. By 1883 the town had been proclaimed.

Tin mining gradually declined to be replaced by timber cutting and in 1970 the first hop fields

Hops

Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...

 were planted.

For visitors

Close to the town is Mount Horror, known for excellent scenic views is surrounded by extensive pine and gum

Gumtree

Gumtree is an extensive network of online classifieds and community websites. Classified ads are either free or paid for depending on the product category and the geographical market...

 plantations. The Forestry Commission’s fire tower is open to the public when attended in the summer.

This town offers the visitor good fishing in the Ringarooma River. Of historical interest is the disused Mount Paris Dam, located on C425 road and the Imperial Hotel built circa 1909.

Railway

Branxholm was served by a branch railway line which extended from Launceston

Launceston, Tasmania

Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...

 to Herrick, 4 km short of Moorina. The State rail connected Branxholm to its system in 1911.
The railway closed in April, 1992.