History Swansea, Tasmania

schouten house, swansea

swansea not settled until 1821 when george meredith, family , workers arrived pembrokeshire, wales. meredith obtained grant lieutenant governor william sorell farm in area around oyster bay. land developed , made suitable seasonal crops , grazing stock , tannery , flour mill established meredith river. whaling stations set on nearby islands enable export of whale oil. swansea called great swanport , meredith built family home, cambria, in private hands. there other important buildings in town including morris’ general store has been owned , run morris family on 100 years. swansea bark mill processed black wattle bark used in colonial times in tanning industry , combined museum, tavern , bakery. schouten house fine victorian colonial house built in 1844 , hotel.

waterloo point post office opened on 6 september 1832 , renamed swansea around 1863.