People getting ready to go fishing with the islands Faith, Hope and Charity in the background

Dover
The southernmost town of some importance in Australia.
Dover is a delightful and sleepy little town which is located 83 km southwest of Hobart on the Huon Highway. It can legitimately claim to be the southern most town of significance in Australia. There are villages further south but Dover is the last place where you can buy petrol and supplies. Some of the villages on Bruny Island are further south and, inevitably, there is a long standing argument between the hotel in Alonnah on Bruny Island and the Dover Hotel as to which is the most southern hotel in Australia.

Picturesquely situated on Port Esperance (named after L'Esperance one of the ships of Bruni D'Entrecasteaux who explored the area in 1792), this attractive town offers excellent views across the water to the islands named Faith, Hope and Charity. It is possible to sail across to Faith Island where there are a number of historic graves.

The Community Church

Dover was originally established as a convict probation station. There is now little evidence of the town's penal past. All that remains is the well preserved (and privately owned) Commandant's Office which is located next to the Caravan Park on Beach Road. The best access is to turn left (or keep going straight ahead) at Rosie's Gift Shop on the Huon Highway in the centre of town.

After the convict settlement the small town developed as an important port shipping huon pine to the world. By 1850 there were a number of sawmills in the area. Some of the old steam driven timber cutting engines can still be seen in the local museum. It is claimed that the one link between Dover in England and Dover in Tasmania is that huon pine shipped from this area was used in the construction of Dover Pier.

More recently the town has become an important fishing port. There is even an Atlantic salmon farm (reputedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere - which, given that the salmon is a Northern Hemisphere fish, is hardly surprising) in the area.

Things to see:  

Casey's Living Steam Museum
The major attraction in the town is Casey's Living Steam Museum (turn off the highway at Rosie's Gift Shop) which combines an excellent display of old steam engines with a small display on the local apple industry, a display connected with the timber industry and particularly the huon pine, and a section on the history of Dover with an old bark hut. It is open seven days a week from 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. For further details contact (03) 6298 1506.

	Hotels
	Dover Motel/Hotel Main Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1210 Rating: **
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Annešs Old Rectory Bed & Breakfast Huon Hwy Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1222 Rating: ***
	Apartments
	Dover Motel Apts Main Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1210 Rating: **
	Three Island Holiday Apartments Station Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1396 Rating: ***
	Cottages & Cabins
	Driftwood Holiday Cottages Bay View Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1441 Rating: ****
	Huon Charm Waterfront Cottage Esperance Coast Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6297 6314
	Huon Delight Holiday Cottage 582 Coast Rd Police Point Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6297 6336 Rating: ***
	Lodges & Chalets
	White Cliffs Lodge 200m South of Post Office Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1180
	Caravan Parks
	Dover Beachside Caravan Park Kent Beach Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1301 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Annešs Old Rectory Huon Hwy Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1222
	Dover Motel/Hotel Restaurant Main Rd Dover TAS 7117 Telephone: (03) 6298 1210