Zeehan
TAS 7469 • Tasmania
About Zeehan
Zeehan is a historic mining town on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, situated approximately 286 kilometres north-west of Hobart and 139 kilometres south-west of Burnie within the West Coast Council local government area. The town sits at an elevation of 172 metres amidst dense temperate rainforest, recording an extraordinary annual rainfall of over 2,400 millimetres and a population of approximately 702 residents in the 2021 Census. Zeehan boomed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a major silver-lead mining centre, once earning the nickname 'Silver City' with a population that reportedly peaked above 10,000. Today it retains much of its Victorian-era heritage architecture and a small but resilient community.
The town is home to the West Coast Heritage Centre, celebrating the region's rich mining and railway history through extensive collections of artefacts and historic photographs. Neighbouring communities include Queenstown, 38 kilometres to the south-east, and the heritage port town of Strahan, gateway to the World Heritage-listed Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The broader west coast offers extraordinary wilderness experiences including the Henty Dunes, Montezuma Falls, and the historic West Coast Wilderness Railway. Zeehan suits those drawn to dramatic rainforest landscapes, frontier community spirit, and a profound sense of industrial heritage.
Zeehan falls under postcode 7469 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Braddon (Murchison) electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- Tassielink West Coast service — Queenstown / Strahan / Devonport Approximately 45 min to Queenstown; ~3h to Devonport
Commute to Hobart CBD
🛣️ Route via A10 Lyell Highway through Queenstown and the central highlands; road is scenic but winding in sections
Zeehan's compact town centre has a small number of local shops within walking distance, but most services and medical facilities require driving to Queenstown or beyond
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Belstead Street
