Penguin, Tasmania
| Penguin Tasmania |
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|---|---|
 Penguin
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| Coordinates | 41°7′0″S 146°4′15″E / 41.11667°S 146.07083°ECoordinates: 41°7′0″S 146°4′15″E / 41.11667°S 146.07083°E |
| Population | 3,924 (2011)[1] |
| Established | 1861 |
| Postcode(s) | 7316 |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Central Coast Council |
| State/territory electorate(s) | Braddon |
| Federal Division(s) | Braddon |
Penguin is a town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is in the Central Coast Council local government area and on the Bass Highway, between Burnie and Ulverstone. At the 2011 census, Penguin had a population of 3,924.[1]
History
Penguin was first settled in 1861 as a timber town, and proclaimed on 25 October 1875. The area's dense bushland and easy access to the sea led to Penguin becoming a significant port town, with large quantities of timber shipped across Bass Strait to Victoria, where the 1850s gold rushes were taking place. The town was named by the botanist Ronald Campbell Gunn for the Little Penguin rookeries that are common along the less populated areas of the coast.[2]
Sulphur Creek Post Office opened on 1 January 1867 and was replaced by the Penguin Creek office in 1868. The latter office was renamed Penguin in 1895.[3]
Notable residents
- Fashion designer Alannah Hill lived in Penguin during her childhood, as her parents owned a milk bar in the town.[4]
- Trevor Kaine, the second Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, was born in Penguin.
- Russell Robertson, an Australian rules footballer for the Melbourne Demons, attended Penguin High School from 1991 to 1994.
- Grant O'Brien the current CEO of Woolworths was raised in Penguin and attended Penguin High School.
Education
Penguin is home to one of only two 7th Day Adventist Schools in Tasmania: North West Christian School. (The other is Hilliard in Hobart.)
Attractions
Penguin is home to the Big Penguin and all street rubbish bins have cement penguins along the sides. Penguin is also a great place for fishing. There are Trout in the Penguin Creek and many different types of fish in the surrounding sea. There are also sandy beaches that are a good place to swim at high-tide. Mount Montgomery is also in the Penguin area.
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Penguin (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ Travel: Penguin, The Age, February 8, 2004.
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ Significant Women: Alannah Hill, Government of Tasmania.
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