Looking upstream from the weir near Geeveston

Geeveston (including Port Huon and Hartz Mountains National Park)
Timber and apple growing town in the Huon Valley
Geeveston is an interesting, small settlement located 62 km south west of Hobart on the Huon Highway. It is economically dependent on the local timber industry which supplies sawmills in the district as well as the huge Australian Paper Mills pulp mill at Hospital Bay. The pulp mill was opened in 1962 and its deep sea wharf is capable of loading two ships simultaneously.

Although the area was explored as early as 1804, only months after the establishment of the colony at Hobart Town, it was deemed unsuitable for development. It wasn't until Lady Jane Franklin established the community at Franklin that any serious attempt to settle the Huon Valley occurred. Life in the early Franklin settlement was extremely hard and many of the early settlers were forced to move away. Amongst these settlers was the family of William Geeves who moved to Lightwood Bottom in 1850. The town's name was changed to Geeves Town in 1861 and this eventually became Geeveston.

The economy of Geeveston is basically driven by apple growing and timber. In season the fields beside the road are thick with apple trees sagging under the weight of their fruit and it is commonplace to be caught behind a timber truck hauling huge logs from the nearby forests to the local mills and pulping operation.

Things to see:  

The Eucalyptus Regnans (Swamp Gum) logged in Arve Valley on 10 December 1971

Swamp Gum
It is not surprising that the town's most overt symbol (it is impossible to miss as you drive through town on the Huon Highway) is the huge trunk of a Swamp Gum (eucalyptus regnans) logged in Arve Valley on 10 December 1971. A sign on the side of the trunk proudly declares that the length is 15.8 m, the girth 6.7 m, it weighs 57 tonnes and its volume 56.7 cubic metres.

Geeveston Community Church
Further along the road is the The Geeveston Community Church (1880s) which is the most prominent building on the highway. It is notable for its tiny steeple which seems out of proportion to the rest of the building.

Main Street
It is worth visiting the town centre for the sheer unusualness of the main street which actually seems to get narrower from one end to the other. Geeveston is a reminder that the notion of a major centre (and Geeveston is the administrative centre of the Esperance Municipality - the southern most council in the country) in Tasmania is not the same as that on the mainland.

Port Huon
Just a few kilometres north of Geeveston is Port Huon which was once the most important port in the district. The development of containerised shipping and the reduction in timber exports has resulted in its decline.

Hartz Mountains National Park
15 km inland from Geeveston is the Hartz Mountains National Park a fascinating combination of glacial features (it is worth remembering that this whole area was glaciated - the Huon Valley is a classic U-shaped glacial valley) and unusual flora and fauna. Hartz Mountain, which rises to 1255 m is part of a dolerite plateau which has been uplifted. It is surrounded by glacial lakes, the largest of which is Lake Hartz, and extensive morainal deposits.

The park's flora includes alpine moorland, Tasmanian waratah, Tasmanian snow gums, yellow gum and Tasmanian climbing heath. Much of the area is covered with an alpine heath which is characterised by stunted trees and areas of open windswept heathland.

There are a number of walking tracks and nature trails in the park and the Arve Loop Road, which leads to the park, passes through some of the most dramatic rainforest country in Australia.

	Tourist Information
	Geeveston Tourist Information Centre Forest & Heritage Centre Church St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1836
	Hotels
	Kermandie Hotel 4518 Main Rd Port Huon Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1052 Facsimile: (03) 6297 0064
	Resorts
	Port Huon Resort Main Rd Port Huon Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1110
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Bears Went Over the Mountain B&B 2 Chruch St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 0110 Email: teddy@bearsoverthemountain.com Rating: ****
	Eriga Bed & Breakfast "Cambridge House" Main Rd Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1561 Rating: ***
	Restaurants
	Kyari 13 Church St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1601
	Ma Pippins Cafe & Restaurant Church St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1834
	The Riverview Room (Kermandie Hotel) 4518 Main Rd Port Huon Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1052 Facsimile: (03) 6297 0064
	Cafés
	Geeveston Gallery Bakery & Tea Room 5 Church St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1056
	Ma Pippins Cafe & Restaurant Church St Geeveston TAS 7116 Telephone: (03) 6297 1834