Bellingham, Tasmania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 259 km (161 mi) N of Hobart
- 62 km (39 mi) N of Launceston
- 38 km (24 mi) NE of George Town
| Bellingham Tasmania | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Aerial photo of Bellingham (right) and Weymouth (left) | |||||||||||||||
  Bellingham | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°01′S 147°10′E / 41.017°S 147.167°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 60 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7254 | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | George Town | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Launceston | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Bass | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Bellingham is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 39 kilometres (24 mi) north-east of the town of George Town. The 2016 census has a population of 60 for the state suburb of Bellingham.[1] It is a tiny coastal hamlet in northern Tasmania, situated on the mouth of the Pipers River directly opposite the town of Weymouth. The town is located 62 kilometres (39 mi) from Launceston, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Bridport and 38 kilometres (24 mi) from George Town.
The township is largely made up of shacks used during the summer time. The permanent residence is about 25 people. In recent years the George Town Council has completed upgrade projects on many of the township's roads, including sealing works on the main Bellingham Road as well as base graveling on Gees Marsh Road, allowing better access to the central township and surrounding areas.
There is a camping ground, tennis court and small boat ramp within the central township, The Marine and Safety Board of Tasmania (MAST) recently announcing funding for a much-needed upgrade for the ramp. the nearby shoreline of the Pipers River can easily be accessed from the town, as well as large coastal beaches adjacent to Bass Strait.
Miller's Beach can be accessed by Four-wheel drive from Gees Marsh Road and marks the beginning of a designated 4wd route that traverses the beaches and sand dunes of Noland Bay and St. Albans Bay, before arriving at Bridport.
Originally called Pipers Heads, Bellingham was first used as a watch for sailing vessels that went up the Pipers River to Weymouth. The wharf at Weymouth was burnt down at the turn of the century, leaving a number of burnt pylons in the river sand that remain to this day. Bellingham was gazetted as a locality in 1964.[2]
Geography
The waters of Bass Strait form most of the northern boundary, and Pipers Brook the western. Little Pipers River forms part of the eastern boundary.[3]
