Low Head
Town in Tasmania, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Low Head is a rural residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the town of George Town. The 2016 census recorded a population of 572 for the state suburb of Low Head.[2] It is a suburb of George Town, on a peninsula at the mouth of the Tamar River.
Low Head | |||||||||||||
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Low Head Pilot Station | |||||||||||||
  Low Head | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates: 41°4′0″S 146°48′0″E | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | Tasmania | ||||||||||||
| Region | Launceston | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 572 (2016 census)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 7253 | ||||||||||||
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It is a popular snorkel and scuba diving area during much of the year, with extensive wide, unspoiled beaches.
The area also has a lighthouse, beaches and a colony of little penguins (Eudyptula minor).
The foghorn, a Chance Brothers "Type G" diaphone at Low Head Lighthouse, is the only operable foghorn of its type and is popular with tourists as it is sounded at noon every Sunday.
History
Low Head was gazetted as a locality in 1967.[3] The first Low Head Post Office opened on 12 September 1887 and closed in 1894.[4] In 1996 the MV Iron Baron ran aground on Hebe Reef, off Low Head, causing the worst oil disaster in Australia's history.
Geography
The waters of the Tamar River estuary (also known as Port Dalrymple) and Bass Strait form the western to north-eastern boundaries. The George Town Aerodrome is within the locality.[5]
Climate
Low Head has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), bordering on a warm Mediterranean climate.
| Climate data for Low Head | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 28.6 (83.5) |
28.7 (83.7) |
26.1 (79.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
20.4 (68.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.7 (78.3) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
17.8 (64.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
12.8 (55.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.8 (33.4) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
1.4 (34.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 46.6 (1.83) |
27.0 (1.06) |
50.6 (1.99) |
55.9 (2.20) |
61.4 (2.42) |
75.2 (2.96) |
74.2 (2.92) |
76.6 (3.02) |
57.3 (2.26) |
54.0 (2.13) |
52.9 (2.08) |
43.8 (1.72) |
674.0 (26.54) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.9 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 12.7 | 14.1 | 15.9 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 11.8 | 9.6 | 8.9 | 133.9 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 68 | 66 | 64 | 66 | 69 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 68 | 66 | 68 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1997–2024 averages;[6] extremes 1980–present) | |||||||||||||