Sorell is a town in Tasmania, Australia, north-east of Hobart. It is located on the Tasman Highway at the junction with the Arthur Highway. Sorell is one of Tasmania's oldest towns, being first settled in 1808 as a small farming community and becoming an official township in 1821.[2] At the 2006 census, Sorell had a population of 1,546,[3] and at the 2011 census, a population of 2,476.[4] and at the 2016 census, a population of 2,907.[5]
| Sorell Hobart, Tasmania | |
|---|---|
 St George's Parish Hall containing the Tourist Information Centre in 2007 - Gordon Street, Sorell | |
  Sorell | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 42°47′S 147°34′E / 42.783°S 147.567°E |
| Population | 3,597 (SAL 2021)[1] |
| Established | 1808 |
| Postcode(s) | 7172 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Sorell Council |
| Region | Hobart |
| State electorate(s) | Lyons |
| Federal division(s) | Lyons |
History
editPre-contact
editThe Mumirimina People of the Oyster Bay Tribe traditionally lived in the Sorell area.[6]
Post-contact
editSorrel was first explored by Europeans by a party from Risdon Cove in 1803.[7] This first exploration was done by Lieutenant Governor Collins, who originally named the area Pitt Water after the current Chancellor of the Exchequer.[6] Sorell was later renamed after Lieutenant Governor William Sorell by Governor Lachlan Macquarie on a tour.[6] Fertile land was discovered,[7] and it was first settled in 1808, but remained an isolated farming community until 1821 when the town was established.[6] Th Sorell Post Office opened on 1 June 1832.[8] Historically, it was a granary for the colony,[6] and became known as the "granary of Australia."[7] It was known as a major town on the route from Hobart to Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula.[citation needed] It was the centre of an agricultural area and an important market town.[citation needed] It is now a dormitory town of Hobart,[citation needed] as well as the seat of the Sorell Council, which was established in 1862.[6]
Telegraph service was introduced in 1876, a railway in 1892, a water supply in 1916, and electricity in 1930. In 1872 the Sorell Causeway was opened across Pitt Water, considerably shortening the route to Hobart, which otherwise relied on ferries or a route through Richmond.[6]
Infrastructure
editSorell is served by Sorell School, the oldest continually operating public school in Australia, opened in 1821.[9] It is a co-educational primary and secondary school, serving years K-12. Sorell is served by a Libraries Tasmania library, a Service Tasmania office, and Australia Post Office.
Sorell Plaza shopping centre, built in the mid 2000s, provides a supermarket and other major retail outlets. It was purchased by SCA Property Group, a subsidiary of Woolworths, in 2019.[10] Gateway Shopping Center includes a competing supermarket and small retail.
Sorell falls within the Anglican Parish of South East Tasmania, based at St George's Church, and the Parish of Richmond, with services at St Thomas's Church. Historically, it was also served by the Presbyterian Scots Church, designed by James Blackburn, which is now a private residence.[11]
Sorell has a number of historic buildings, including the Sorell Barracks, constructed to house soldiers during the Black War. These and other historic buildings - including the railway house, the old Sorell Library (now an antiques centre), and the Gordon Highlander Hotel, form a heritage walk.[12] The area also has a local historical society[13] as well as a Freemasons Lodge (Lodge Pembroke).[14]
Gallery
edit
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Sorell Causeway -
Berry farm near Sorell -
Aerial photo
References
edit- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Sorell (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Visitor Information - Sorell Council". Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Sorell (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Sorell (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Sorell (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "History". Sorell Council. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Turnbull, Paul. "Sorell". Companion to Tasmanian History. Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies, University of Tasmania. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Pioneer School - Sorell History Society". Sorell History Society. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Johanson, Simon (6 August 2019). "SCA digests Vicinity's malls but profit falls". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Sorell, TAS". Aussie Towns. Aussie Towns. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Sorell Heritage Walk" (PDF). Sorell Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Sorell History Society | researching and recording the history of the Sorell Municipality". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/masoniclodgepembroke/ [user-generated source]
