No. 3 - Branxholm

The area was first settled by James Reid Scott who named it after a small village in his native Scotland. By 1870 there were only three buildings in the valley but three years later, with the discovery of tin, a shanty town had grown up.

The Branxholm Post Office opened on 1 August 1876.

By 1877 the population was around 300, but many others were living nearby in tin mining camps like Ruby Flats. No Chinese lived within Branxholm itself.

In 1883 the town was proclaimed.

In the 1890's the Warrentinna Goldfield opened just north of the town,

The importance of mining gradually declined. The Golden Mara Mine (gold) closed in 1920 and the Arba Tin Mine, just east of the town, was unprofitable by 1921; although the company continued operations for many years with tributors processing the mine tailings. Eventually, mining was replaced by timber cutting.but mining gradually declined to be replaced by timber cutting.

In 1970 the first hop fields were planted.

Since the official opening of the Blue Derby Mountain bike trails in neighbouring Derby in 2015 tourism as an industry has become important to the economy of Branxholm. In the few years since the opening of the trails new businesses catering to tourists opened, including cafes and tourist accommodation.


Source: Branxholm, Tasmania - Wikipedia

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