Linda Valley
Linda Valley is a Tasmanian valley located within the West Coast Range, positioned between Mount Owen and Mount Lyell. Historically, it was referred to as the Vale of Chamouni.
Human settlement
The valley was once home to two historic communities, Linda and Gormanston, both situated near the Mount Lyell mining operations on the western shore of Lake Burbury, to the east of the former Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company sites.
Although the North Mount Lyell Railway had a brief terminus at Gormanston, its primary hub was the yard and station at Linda, which early documents identify as Linda Valley station.
An important piece of infrastructure is the partially constructed route for the Comstock Tram, designed to circle Mount Lyell beginning at Linda; traces of this formation remain visible around the mountain.
Fires
During the early 1900s, widespread bushfires devastated much of the valley’s forest cover. Even after a hundred years, numerous tree stumps persist on the slopes surrounding Mount Lyell, illustrating the enduring effects on the environment.
Glaciation
Linda Valley serves as a key site demonstrating glacial activity in the West Coast Range, particularly associated with the Linda Glacial phase. The landscape was sculpted by the King River Glacier, which left moraine deposits at Crotty and along the Henty River.
This valley contains Tasmania’s sole Late Pliocene location with fossilized plant assemblages and is among a limited number of such sites across Australia.
Recently, mineral exploration leases have included this area; however, no major mineral resources have been identified, likely due to coverage by glacial moraine.
See also
Sources
- Whitham, Charles. Western Tasmania: A Land of Riches and Beauty.