Main Street

Tasmania
Main Street, Zeehan circa 1890s
General information
TypeStreet
LocationZeehan
Length3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Route number(s)
Major junctions
  Heemskirk Road
Henty Road
Zeehan Highway

Main Street (Tasmanian road number C248) is a significant 3.2-kilometre (2.0 mi) long thoroughfare in the historic mining town of Zeehan, located on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. Main Street is a living testament to the mining history and the heyday of this once-thriving mining town. It continues to attract tourists and history enthusiasts interested in exploring Tasmania's industrial heritage.

History

Zeehan has a rich history tied to mining, particularly silver and lead mining, which boomed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Main Street played a central role in the town's development during this period.

Constructed in the late 1890s, Main Street is home to many historic buildings and structures that date back to the mining boom era.[1][2][3] These buildings are a testament to the town's prosperity during that time and offer a glimpse into the past. Several well-preserved heritage buildings line Main Street, including the Gaiety Theatre, the West Coast Heritage Centre (formerly the Zeehan School of Mines and Metallurgy), and various hotels, shops, and residences that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The street was utilised by the tram service which passed along the street.[4][5]

Gaiety Theatre

The Gaiety Theatre is one of the central landmarks on Main Street. It was built in 1898 and is known for its ornate facade.[6][7] The theatre was once a hub of entertainment and culture in Zeehan, hosting a variety of performances and events.

Shelverton Hotel

The former Shelverton Hotel held a strategic location near the railway station and close to the tram terminus, making it popular with travellers. The hotel boasted a 20-metre (66 ft) frontage on Main Street and 45-metre (148 ft) on King Street, with luxurious appointments throughout its 42 rooms. It featured public and private bars, dining and drawing rooms, commercial and smoking rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, and a shared kitchen. On May 29, 1913, the 22-year-old Shelverton Hotel tragically burned down, with only three occupants occupying it; its licensee, Mr. P. Quinn, housemaid Miss Painter, and the barman, Mr. Prescott. While the fire brigade saved the store and stables, the hotel suffered significant losses, including valuable family portraits and a sewing machine. The hotel, owned by Mr. W. Rainbird at the time, was insured for £1200, and its furniture and stock for £600. The cause of the fire remained a mystery. Notably, the Shelverton Hotel had the honor of hosting Governor Viscount Gormanston and Lady Gormanston during their visit to open the North East Dundas Tramway in 1898.

West Coast Heritage Centre

Occupying the historic Zeehan School of Mines and Metallurgy building, the West Coast Heritage Centre is a museum and cultural institution that showcases the history of the West Coast region of Tasmania, with a particular focus on mining and the town of Zeehan.

The West Coast Heritage Centre incorporates some of the original township buildings including:

  • Zeehan School of Mines and Metallurgy
  • Gaiety Theatre
  • Zeehan Post Office
  • Zeehan Courthouse

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "FORMING MAIN-STREET". Launceston Examiner. Vol. LVIII, no. 249. Tasmania, Australia. 19 October 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "METALLING MAIN-STREET". Launceston Examiner. Vol. LVIII, no. 269. Tasmania, Australia. 11 November 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ Beattie, J. W. (John Watt), 1859-1930, (photographer.); Lilley, Victor, (photographer.) (1898), Zeehan illustrated : supplement to Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Saturday, March 19, 1898, Launceston, Tasmania Printed and published at "The Examiner" Printing Office... by Henry Button... Printer, retrieved 27 September 2016{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Harvey, J. H. (John Henry) (1880), Main Street, Zeehan Tasmania, retrieved 22 September 2021 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/46409
  5. ↑ Plan 7812447 (6728) Surveyor General's Office, Hobart, Tasmania - Zeehan - showing lines for the Granville Tram, Montana Tram, Dunkley's Tram, Zeehan Town Tram, Comstock Tram, the Strahan Zeehan Railway, Government Tram to State Mine and tramways, Libraries Tasmania, 1922, retrieved 22 September 2021 https://stors.tas.gov.au/AI/P1330-1-8991
  6. ↑ "ZEEHAN". Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVIII, no. 241. Tasmania, Australia. 10 October 1898. p. 2. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "ZEEHAN". Daily Telegraph. Vol. XVIII, no. 250. Tasmania, Australia. 20 October 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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