Scottsdale, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Scottsdale is a town in the north-east of Tasmania
, Australia
. It lies on the Tasman Highway
, around 63 kilometres (39 mi) north-east of Launceston
and 22 km (14 mi) south-east of the coastal town of Bridport
. It is part of the Dorset Council.
The area was first surveyed in 1855 and was described as, "the best soil
on the island ... well watered, with a mild climate" by surveyor James Scott, for whom the town is named. This rings true today as the town, as well as being the regional centre for other north-east towns, is a major agricultural
centre.
, pine plantations, poppy
cultivation and mining are all major industries in the area. Hops
were previously an important crop, however large hop farms have over the last few years been sold and/or turned into dairy farms and eucalypt and pine plantations.
The setting of the town, surrounded by green fields and blue mountains, as well as increasing infrastructure and improved promotion for visitors, is giving the local tourism industry a boost. The Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links and the Bridestowe Estate Lavender
Farm are key local attractions.
The Forest EcoCentre, operated by Forestry Tasmania
, was built in Scottsdale in the late 1990s, as an educational visitor centre designed to inform the public about the forestry industry in Tasmania.
Scottsdale is an important service centre for north-east Tasmania, with shops catering for most residents' needs, however the town's retail sector has recently suffered a decline, with increasing vacancies in the town's main street of King Street. The town has also suffered from the closure of the North-East Tasmania Rail Line, which increased the number of trucks on local roads. The complete removal of rails on major sections of the line halted the possibility of the rail line operating as a tourist route, despite it running through spectacular scenery. Ironically, the rails removed from the section between Scottsdale and Herrick (the rails from Scottsdale to Launceston remains unused, but is being looked at by the various preservation railways) were used for the Abt Wilderness Railway on Tasmania's west coast.
In the 2006 Census, the most common industries of employment for persons aged 15 years and over usually resident in Scottsdale were Log Sawmilling and Timber Dressing (15.4%), School Education (5.0%) Road Freight Transport (5.0%), Supermarket and Grocery Stores (4.3%) and Forestry and Logging (4.3%).
In Scottsdale the median weekly individual income for persons aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $362, compared with $466 in Australia. The median weekly household income was $697, compared with $1,027 in Australia. The median weekly family income was $936, compared with $1,171 in Australia.
Scottsdale voters showed their conservatism compared to other Tasmanian towns when they gave the Liberal candidate at the 2004 Federal election, Michael Ferguson, 61.72% of their vote on a two-party preferred basis. In the 2007 election, Ferguson managed a slightly smaller majority of 59.97%.
) and George Street/Tasman Highway
or "Ringarooma Road" (Bridport Road). The main shopping area is located around King Street and Victoria Street.
The high point of the town is located in Mary Street where there is a large water storage tank.
Ellesmere is the original Scottsdale where the first settlement was built, located now on the northern outskirts of the town.
The other well-known locality is Lades Estate, primarily a government housing area. Lades Estate has earned the nickname Sin City because of the higher crime rate and lower socio-economic status of this area of Scottsdale.
Public facilities in the town include an outdoor swimming pool, sports stadium, golf course, public library (including an online access centre), primary school and high school.
Northeast Park is a popular facility in the town, and provides seven days free camping, coin operated barbecues (20c coin) and coin operated hot showers (3 x $1 coins)for those passing through the region. Northeast Park has had recent upgrades, with community support helping to improve the park.
Public Transport in the region is serviced by RD & FH Sainty North East Bus Service. The service runs several times per day delivering passengers and freight to local businesses. Also there is an early service primarily for students studying in Launceston leaving at 7.10am and returning at 5.20pm every school day.
In July 2006 Scottsdale, the heart of Tasmania's "north-east Bible belt
", was given national coverage because local Exclusive Brethren
sect members were named as having conducted an advertising smear against the Australian Greens
political party. Scottsdale again received national attention in relation to this issue when the Greens party attempted to pass a motion to have a Senate Inquiry into the activities of the Exclusive Brethren. Exclusive Brethren members are successful local business people.
There has been consternation and division in 2005 and 2006 in the local community and against the Dorset Council over the issue of the closure of William Street to through traffic and the blessing of Lilydale Road and Listers Lane as a trucking route. A new "version" of Listers Lane was built to link Lilydale Road to Bridport Road. Many local businesses protested against the closure of William Street, and today the new road sits unused because of safety reasons, a "white elephant" costing several million dollars. The road reopened in 2008.
Major activity is currently afoot around Scottsdale in the development of the tourist trail, "Trail of the Tin Dragon".
Scottsdale locals gain a sense of community by participating in activities related to the local primary and high schools, churches and sport. AFL
football is very popular in the town and the Scottsdale Football Club
had success in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association
. Also popular are swimming, golf
, hockey
, bowls
and basketball
.
Students wishing to complete their Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) are required to attend college in the city of Launceston
.
Scottsdale is served by television stations ABC TV, SBS
, Southern Cross Tasmania, WIN Television
, TDT
and radio stations 7SD 540 kHz and Sea FM
99.7 MHz, and Launceston newspaper The Examiner and local newspaper The North-East Advertiser.
7SD previously operated from studios in Scottsdale's King Street. It provided a community service by joining together locals over the large north-east Tasmania area by for example publishing cooking books filled with recipes by locals. There are no longer local radio broadcasts from Scottsdale itself. 7SD and SeaFM are both now retransmitted from Launceston.
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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It lies on the Tasman Highway
Tasman Highway
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart...
, around 63 kilometres (39 mi) north-east of 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...
and 22 km (14 mi) south-east of the coastal town of Bridport
Bridport, Tasmania
Bridport is a small town on the north-east coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is part of the Dorset Council. At the 2006 census, Bridport had a population of 1,327....
. It is part of the Dorset Council.
The area was first surveyed in 1855 and was described as, "the best soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
on the island ... well watered, with a mild climate" by surveyor James Scott, for whom the town is named. This rings true today as the town, as well as being the regional centre for other north-east towns, is a major agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
centre.
Industry
Potato farming, dairy farmingDairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
, pine plantations, poppy
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
cultivation and mining are all major industries in the area. Hops
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 previously an important crop, however large hop farms have over the last few years been sold and/or turned into dairy farms and eucalypt and pine plantations.
The setting of the town, surrounded by green fields and blue mountains, as well as increasing infrastructure and improved promotion for visitors, is giving the local tourism industry a boost. The Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links and the Bridestowe Estate Lavender
Lavender
The lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
Farm are key local attractions.
The Forest EcoCentre, operated by Forestry Tasmania
Forestry Tasmania
Forestry Tasmania is a Tasmanian state government-owned corporation. It runs the state-owned forestry for tourism and logging including the Tahune Airwalk and Upper Florentine Valley.-Controversy:...
, was built in Scottsdale in the late 1990s, as an educational visitor centre designed to inform the public about the forestry industry in Tasmania.
Scottsdale is an important service centre for north-east Tasmania, with shops catering for most residents' needs, however the town's retail sector has recently suffered a decline, with increasing vacancies in the town's main street of King Street. The town has also suffered from the closure of the North-East Tasmania Rail Line, which increased the number of trucks on local roads. The complete removal of rails on major sections of the line halted the possibility of the rail line operating as a tourist route, despite it running through spectacular scenery. Ironically, the rails removed from the section between Scottsdale and Herrick (the rails from Scottsdale to Launceston remains unused, but is being looked at by the various preservation railways) were used for the Abt Wilderness Railway on Tasmania's west coast.
Demographics
Scottsdale is a relatively Anglo-Saxon community, with the largest groups of foreign-born locals being from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Italy. 72% of the population identifies as Christian. The median age of the town is 36. (Figures from the 2001 census)In the 2006 Census, the most common industries of employment for persons aged 15 years and over usually resident in Scottsdale were Log Sawmilling and Timber Dressing (15.4%), School Education (5.0%) Road Freight Transport (5.0%), Supermarket and Grocery Stores (4.3%) and Forestry and Logging (4.3%).
In Scottsdale the median weekly individual income for persons aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $362, compared with $466 in Australia. The median weekly household income was $697, compared with $1,027 in Australia. The median weekly family income was $936, compared with $1,171 in Australia.
Scottsdale voters showed their conservatism compared to other Tasmanian towns when they gave the Liberal candidate at the 2004 Federal election, Michael Ferguson, 61.72% of their vote on a two-party preferred basis. In the 2007 election, Ferguson managed a slightly smaller majority of 59.97%.
Localities
Scottsdale consists of a web of streets around two major avenues, King Street (Tasman HighwayTasman Highway
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart...
) and George Street/Tasman Highway
Tasman Highway
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart...
or "Ringarooma Road" (Bridport Road). The main shopping area is located around King Street and Victoria Street.
The high point of the town is located in Mary Street where there is a large water storage tank.
Ellesmere is the original Scottsdale where the first settlement was built, located now on the northern outskirts of the town.
The other well-known locality is Lades Estate, primarily a government housing area. Lades Estate has earned the nickname Sin City because of the higher crime rate and lower socio-economic status of this area of Scottsdale.
Public facilities in the town include an outdoor swimming pool, sports stadium, golf course, public library (including an online access centre), primary school and high school.
Northeast Park is a popular facility in the town, and provides seven days free camping, coin operated barbecues (20c coin) and coin operated hot showers (3 x $1 coins)for those passing through the region. Northeast Park has had recent upgrades, with community support helping to improve the park.
Public Transport in the region is serviced by RD & FH Sainty North East Bus Service. The service runs several times per day delivering passengers and freight to local businesses. Also there is an early service primarily for students studying in Launceston leaving at 7.10am and returning at 5.20pm every school day.
Culture
The town gained national media attention in 2005 and 2006 when fears about job losses in the local sawmilling industry arose in the Scottsdale community.In July 2006 Scottsdale, the heart of Tasmania's "north-east Bible belt
Bible Belt
Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average.The...
", was given national coverage because local Exclusive Brethren
Exclusive Brethren
The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848....
sect members were named as having conducted an advertising smear against the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
political party. Scottsdale again received national attention in relation to this issue when the Greens party attempted to pass a motion to have a Senate Inquiry into the activities of the Exclusive Brethren. Exclusive Brethren members are successful local business people.
There has been consternation and division in 2005 and 2006 in the local community and against the Dorset Council over the issue of the closure of William Street to through traffic and the blessing of Lilydale Road and Listers Lane as a trucking route. A new "version" of Listers Lane was built to link Lilydale Road to Bridport Road. Many local businesses protested against the closure of William Street, and today the new road sits unused because of safety reasons, a "white elephant" costing several million dollars. The road reopened in 2008.
Major activity is currently afoot around Scottsdale in the development of the tourist trail, "Trail of the Tin Dragon".
Scottsdale locals gain a sense of community by participating in activities related to the local primary and high schools, churches and sport. AFL
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
football is very popular in the town and the Scottsdale Football Club
Scottsdale Football Club
The Scottsdale Football Club is an Australian rules football club which competed in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association between 1948 and 1986. Scottsdale joined the Northern Tasmanian Football League in 1987...
had success in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association
Northern Tasmanian Football Association (1886 - 1986)
The Northern Tasmanian Football Association was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1886 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and North West Football Union representing the rest of the state...
. Also popular are swimming, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
Students wishing to complete their Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) are required to attend college in the city of 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...
.
Scottsdale is served by television stations ABC TV, SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
, Southern Cross Tasmania, WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
, TDT
Tasmanian Digital Television
Tasmanian Digital Television is a digital television station in Tasmania, Australia. It is jointly owned by the WIN Corporation and Macquarie Media Group, and largely managed by WIN Television.-Introduction:...
and radio stations 7SD 540 kHz and Sea FM
Sea FM (Australian radio network)
Sea FM is a commercial Australian radio network, consisting of stations in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania and is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Some Sea FM stations were later sold to meet media ownership requirements...
99.7 MHz, and Launceston newspaper The Examiner and local newspaper The North-East Advertiser.
7SD previously operated from studios in Scottsdale's King Street. It provided a community service by joining together locals over the large north-east Tasmania area by for example publishing cooking books filled with recipes by locals. There are no longer local radio broadcasts from Scottsdale itself. 7SD and SeaFM are both now retransmitted from Launceston.