Burnie is situated to the north west of the island and extends along coastline fronting onto Emu Bay. The growth of the city can be traced back to the discovery of tin in nearby Waratah late last century.

Originally called Emu Bay, Burnie was named in 1828 after William Burnie, a director with the Van Diemens Land Company(PEP), with the original village settlement of 1829 located in the present day port area. The town became a timber port in the 1830s but development was slow in the area due to a complex land sales policy. Burnie was declared a town in 1866.

With the discovery of tin in the Waratah area in 1871, Burnie finally saw some prosperity. The town became an important port for the shipment of tin, especially with the establishment of a tram line from the Mt Bischoff mine in 1878 and its subsequent upgrading to a rail line in 1884.

The year 1877 saw the arrival of the telegraph service to Burnie. The Emu Bay Railway then extended its line to Zeehan and Rosebery in 1900, and a State rail line from Launceston was opened in 1901.

The much needed Murchison Highway linking Burnie to Zeehan was opened in 1963, and three years later a new railway station was built in the town. 1977 marked the sesquicentenary of the foundation of Burnie, and a time capsule was buried in the Civic Plaza as part of the celebrations. By October 1986 the Burnie Freeway - providing an important link to the west - was fully opened.

In the present day, Burnie owes much of its economic prosperity to the development of the port into one of the largest container ports in Australia. Expansion of the Associated Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd (established in 1938), and the growth of other key industries with large export markets have ensured that the port is always busy.

The town is the headquarters of Tasmania's only privately owned railway company, Emu Bay Railway Company Ltd., which services the west coast mining establishments. Rural industry - including the thriving forestry trade - and the development of tourism also play a role in Burnie's prosperity today. The town is a popular stopover for visitors travelling to see the west and north west coast attractions.

Natural Attractions

Burnie Lookout provides fantastic views of the coastline and city stretching inland. Nearby natural attractions include Fern Glen, Guide Falls and Hellyer Gorge. A one hour drive will take visitors to the spectacular Cradle Mountain National Park, where a wide range of activities are available.

Museums and Galleries

The Pioneer Village Museum houses almost 20,000 items related to local history. The Burnie Civic Centre hosts various national and international theatre productions and concerts in its halls, and is also considered to be a major convention centre in Tasmania. The Burnie Regional Art Gallery, within the complex, displays a wide and varied range of works from local and national artists. Burnie Inn, which was constructed in the 1840s has been fully restored and stands in Burnie Park for visitors to admire.

Parks and Gardens

Burnie Park, Fern Glade, Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens (located 18 kilometres from Burnie), and the privately run Annsleigh Gardens and Tea Rooms all provide a sea of bright colours in Springtime when the flowers are in full bloom. Romaine Park Reserve is also worth a visit to appreciate the fantastic scenery and native flora and fauna within its boundaries.

Other Attractions

Tour the Amcor Paper Mills by prior arrangement, and visit the Lactos Cheesemaker shop with the added treat of a cheese tasting session after an informational video on the processes involved in manufacturing high quality cheeses.


Lactos started out life under the name of Lacrum Dairy Farm. A wide variety of sumptuous cheeses such as edam, cannonball, brie and camembert are available for tasting and purchase at the cheesemaker shop. The milk used in the production of these delicious cheeses comes from the prime dairy farming areas in Tasmania - both Mole Creek and Circular Head (Stanley).

The cheese shop also stocks a variety of home preserves including honey, chutney and relishes and other Tasmanian produce. These tours are very worthwhile, and provide an insight into the industries so important to the town of Burnie. Recreation facilities in Burnie range from golf courses to tennis courts and bowling greens, to name but a few.

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