Custom Search
link to region .

ZEEHAN

.home index links

Nearby: STRAHAN, QUEENSTOWN, LAKE BURBURY, CORINA, WEST COAST REGION

  • ZEEHAN
  • Museum

 

Main Street Zeehan

1/ Zeehan is an interesting, old, mining town in western Tasmania. This photo shows some of the major historic assets of Zeehan. The first from the left is the museum, followed by the post office, then the masonic hall and finally the Gaiety Theatre. These are now all linked together to form a very large museum.

Post office in Zeehan Tasmania

2/ The Zeehan Post Office is also a very opulent building. It once sold mining licences to prospectors and was the old communications hub of Zeehan.

hotel in Zeehan Tasmania

3/ Hotels were the main leisure places for miners in the old days. Many colorful things happened once in this the Central Hotel of Zeehan.

hotel in Zeehan Tasmania

4/ This is the Hotel Cecil. It is a substantial brick building with an interesting past. It is located on the main street but it is outside the central area of Zeehan.

Bank in Zeehan Tasmania

5/ This is a Victorian era bank in downtown Zeehan. Banks were very important to the economies of mining town like Zeehan.

anglican church in Zeehan Tasmania

6/ This is the Gothic revival, Anglican church of Zeehan. The substantial, stone construction proves that Zeehan was once a wealthy town.

catholic church in Zeehan Tasmania

7/ This is the Catholic church of Zeehan. Note the Irish Celtic crosses on the bell tower. It is quite different in style from the church above and is also quite large. This church has managed to keep its ancient decor.

inside the catholic church in Zeehan Tasmania

8/ This is inside the Catholic church. The statues are of Jesus (left) and the Virgin Mary (right). The decor was historically, authentic in style to what was common in the late 19th Century.

Spray Tunnel in Zeehan Tasmania

9/ This is the Spray Tunnel. It is all that remains of a large silver mining complex built in the silver boom of the 1890s. The tunnel is about 100 metres in length and about 2 metres in height. Mine trolleys once used it.

Gaiety Theatre in Zeehan Tasmania

10/ This very opulent building is the Gaiety Theatre. Its lavish style proves that Zeehan was once a wealthy town. The theatre is still used by theatrical groups today.

Gaiety Theatre in Zeehan Tasmania

11/ In the entrance are stylish, posters from the past. They show that major performers, like Nellie Melba, once performed here. In the 20th Century the theatre was used for films. "The Story of the Kelly Gang" was the first movie ever made in Australia and today is a cultural icon.

Gaiety Theatre in Zeehan Tasmania

12/ This is the historic, lounge of the Gaiety Theatre. Only the ceiling lights are from modern times.

Mt Zeehan near Zeehan in western Tasmania

13/ This is Mt Zeehan. It is named after one of the ships of Abel Tasman, the Dutch discoverer of Tasmania in 1642. It is located on the road to Strahan. Mt Zeehan is 700 metres high and is a major landmark.

 

West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

1/ This is the entrance to the West Coast Heritage Centre. This museum has one of the largest displays of mining history in Tasmania. It links together three adjacent historic buildings. The telephone is (03) 6471 6225

display in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

2/ The centre has many rooms displaying photos, documents and artifacts covering the historic mining sites of Zeehan, Rosebery, Strahan, Queenstown and other west coast mines. It is a must see for history enthusiasts.

Display in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

3/ This is one of many wall panels that tell the exciting history of the west coast. This one tells the story of the achievements of the west coast railways.

lobster in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

4/ There is also an exhibit on west coast fauna. This one shows the famous giant lobster that lives in Tasmanian rivers. Next to it is a giant crab caught in nearby seas.

mine display in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

5/ The centre has an underground section, where you can see recreations of what conditions in the ancient mines of Zeehan were like.

machines in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

6/ There is also a huge display of 19th Century mining equipment in several sheds.

lawn of the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

7/ Behind the centre is a lawn display of very large mining machines. This lawn connects you with displays in the Masonic Hall and the Gaiety Theatre.

Train in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

8/ These are 19th Century steam locomotives that once hauled passengers and freight around the west coast towns of Tasmania. Until recent times Zeehan was connected to Burnie by a rail link.

passenger car in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

9/ This exhibit is of a passenger car and other light railway vehicles.

masonic hall in the West Coast Heritage Centre in Zeehan Tasmania

10/ You can also visit the Masonic Hall, which is located next to the Gaiety Theatre of Zeehan.

To ZEEHAN Small Photo & Information Page