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Snug, Tasmania

Coordinates: 43°04′0″S 147°16′0″E / 43.06667°S 147.26667°E / -43.06667; 147.26667
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Snug
Tasmania
Snug aerial, c. 2006
Snug is located in Tasmania
Snug
Snug
Coordinates43°04′0″S 147°16′0″E / 43.06667°S 147.26667°E / -43.06667; 147.26667
Population1,440 (2021 census)[1]
Established1840s
Gazetted1965[2]
Postcode(s)7054
Location
LGA(s)Kingborough, Huon Valley
State electorate(s)Franklin
Federal division(s)Franklin

Snug is a small coastal town on the Channel Highway, located 30 km (19 mi) south of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. It lies on the shore of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, with views across the water to Bruny Island. At the 2021 census, Snug had a population of 1,440.[1] The town is within the Kingborough Council area, though a small portion lies in the Huon Valley Council, and it is considered part of Greater Hobart.[1]

Primarily a residential community for those working in Hobart and Kingborough, Snug also supports a modest tourism sector. Local amenities include a primary school, general store, supermarket, butcher, pub, community hall, churches, sports oval, caravan park, nursery, retirement home, and a playground. A monthly community market is held in the town.[3]

History

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The area now known as Snug lies on the traditional lands of the Muwinina people, one of the Palawa groups of southeastern Tasmania.[4]

The Snug area was first recorded by Europeans when French Vice-Admiral Bruni D'Entrecasteaux sailed through the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in 1792.[5] Following the establishment of the British colony at Hobart Town, the nearby Snug River was named for the sheltered nature of its river inlet and coastline. By the 1820s, a port and timber mills had been established at North-West Bay. Originally known as "The Snug", the small settlement began to take form by the 1840s and 1850s.[5][6]

Snug River Post Office opened on 1 October 1870 and was renamed Snug in 1908.[7]

The town established the Snug Soldiers' Memorial Avenue, in 1953 to commemorate local service members who served in World War II.[8][9] The township of Snug was gazetted on 11 August 1965.[2]

Today, Snug encompasses the smaller locality of Lower Snug, located to the south of the main township. Lower Snug is a rural residential area that was gazetted as a locality in 1972.[10]

Carbide factory

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In 1917, industrialist James Hynds Gillies commenced construction of a carbide factory at Electrona, a locality situated just south of Snug. Gillies intended to use electricity from a proposed hydroelectric scheme at Great Lake to produce calcium carbide for acetylene gas. The Electrona Carbide Works began production shortly after World War I. Although Gillies lost control of the hydroelectric project (later developed into what became Hydro Tasmania) the carbide works continued under various operators.[11]

As demand for carbide declined, the factory was sold to Pioneer Silicon Industries and converted into a silicon smelter in 1988, producing metallurgical-grade silicon. However, the plant struggled financially and closed permanently in 1991.[12][13][14]

1967 bushfires

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On 7 February 1967, Snug was among the worst-affected areas during the catastrophic bushfires that swept southern Tasmania, an event known as the 1967 Tasmanian bushfires or 'Black Tuesday'. The fires resulted in the deaths of 62 people across the region, with over 900 injured and 7,000 left homeless. In Snug, 11 residents lost their lives, and approximately 80 of the town's 120 buildings were destroyed, including homes, churches, and half the local school.[5]

To commemorate those who perished and to acknowledge the community's loss and resilience, the Snug Bushfire Memorial was erected in 2007. The memorial symbolically represents the widespread devastation of the fires and consists of a stylised steel skeleton of a house painted in raw orange to evoke flame and heat. A standing brick chimney reflects the common image of chimneys being the only structures left standing after a fire. It serves as a focal point for remembrance of all those affected across southern Tasmania.[15]

St John's Church

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The current St John's Church in Snug was constructed in 1969 to replace a 1920s Anglican church destroyed in the 1967 bushfires. Designed by architect Harry Oldmeadow, the new brick building was completed at a cost of $28,000 and was consecrated in April of the same year. A cross made from charred timber recovered from the original church was installed in the new building as a memorial feature.[16]

The church has since been deconsecrated and is currently leased to the Snug Christian Church. As of 2023, the Anglican Diocese entered into an agreement to sell the property to the adjacent aged care facility, Christian Homes.[17]

Environment

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Snug Falls in 2009

Snug Falls, a popular local walking destination, is located in the nearby bushland and attracts nature enthusiasts and hikers.[18] The walking track to the falls begins from a car park off Snug Falls Road and is approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) return. The trail descends through open eucalypt forest with views over the Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area (established in 1927),[19] ending at a picturesque cascade where the Snug River drops over mossy rock ledges into a fern-lined gully. It is considered a relatively easy walk and is especially popular after rain when the waterfall is flowing at its strongest.

Other natural features in the region include the Snug Tiers, a range of forested hills that offer views over North-West Bay and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The area is known for native flora and fauna, including Tasmanian blue gums and echidnas.[20][21] Snug Beach, located at the mouth of the Snug River, provides calm, sheltered swimming conditions and is a popular spot for families, picnics, and kayaking. It is backed by grassy foreshore reserves and is easily accessible from the town centre.

Sport

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The town supported a football team in the Kingborough Football Association, winning premierships in 1954, 1956 and 1957. The team later merged with neighbouring clubs to form the Channel Football Club.[citation needed]

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  • Steamship arriving at the Snug jetty, c. 1910s. From the Crowther Collection, Libraries Tasmania.
    Steamship arriving at the Snug jetty, c. 1910s. From the Crowther Collection, Libraries Tasmania.
  • Three women outside Snug Area School, c. 1955. From the collection of Betty McDowell (née Thwaites), Museums Victoria.
    Three women outside Snug Area School, c. 1955. From the collection of Betty McDowell (née Thwaites), Museums Victoria.
  • Snug Beach at dusk, c. 2005.
    Snug Beach at dusk, c. 2005.

Notable people

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Access

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The Channel Highway (Route B68) passes through both Snug and Lower Snug, linking the locality to Kingston and Hobart. Public transport is provided by Metro Tasmania, with routes 413, 415, 416, 417 and 422 operating between Hobart and Snug, offering regular weekday and limited weekend services.[23]

Historically, Snug also served as a terminal for ferry access to Bruny Island. In 1938, Grant’s Bruny Island Ferry Service commenced operations with the MV Taruna, initially running between Middleton and Simpsons Bay. By 1943, a second vessel, the Gayclitte, captained by J. F. Miley, operated from the Snug Jetty to Dennes Point. However, due to deterioration of the jetty, the service was later relocated to Tinderbox, from where it continued to service Dennes Point.[24]

See also

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Sources

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  • Gardam, Julie (2007), The Snug : A History of the Snug-Electrona-Coningham Area, J. Gardam, retrieved 7 June 2025

References

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  1. ^ a b c "2021 Greater Hobart, Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Placenames Tasmania – Snug". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "1242C", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Community Market". Community Association of Greater Snug. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners Policy" (PDF). Kingborough Council. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Snug - Culture and History". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  6. ^ "The Snug. A Coming Tourist Resort". The Mercury. Vol. CXXVII, no. 18, 713. Tasmania, Australia. 28 October 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 7 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Post Office List". Premier Postal History. Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  8. ^ Turnbull, Paul (28 November 2015). "Soldiers' Memorial Avenues". School of Humanities, University of Tasmania. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Snug – Avenues of Honour". Avenues of Honour – Australia's Living Memorials. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Placenames Tasmania – Lower Snug". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "9945D", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. ^ Turnbull, Paul (28 November 2015). "Carbide Works". School of Humanities, University of Tasmania. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Electrona Carbide Industries v. TGIO and others (PDF)" (PDF). The Supreme Court of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
  13. ^ "Minerals yearbook 1991". US Bureau of Mines. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
  14. ^ "Australian Workers' Union, Metals and Engineering Workers' Union and Pioneer Silicon Industries Pty Ltd". Tasmanian Industrial Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
  15. ^ "Snug Bushfire Memorial". Monument Australia. 11 February 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  16. ^ "St John's Anglican". Australian Christian Church Histories. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  17. ^ Grant, Duncan (23 October 2022). "St John's Anglican Church (1969)". Churches of Tasmania. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Discover Snug Falls in Tasmania". Waterfalls of Tasmania. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Snug River Reserve". Huon Times. Vol. 18, no. 1852. Tasmania, Australia. 17 May 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 7 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Best hikes and trails in Snug Tiers Nature Recreation Area". AllTrails.com. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  21. ^ "The Snug River Gorge and Falls". The Mercury. Vol. CX, no. 17, 138. Tasmania, Australia. 6 September 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 7 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ Langenberg, Adam (3 January 2025). "Beau Webster's tiny hometown of Snug is right behind him as he debuts for Australia's Test cricket XI". ABC News. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Route 415 Timetable". Metro Tasmania. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Travelling to South Bruny Island". Bruny Island Tasmania. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
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