Pieman River

The Pieman River is a significant year-round watercourse located in the western coastal area of Tasmania.

Course and features

The river originates at Lake Rosebury, an artificial lake formed by the Bastyan Dam, where the Mackintosh and Murchison Rivers merge. It flows predominantly westward for about 100 kilometers, descending over its length. Along its journey, the Pieman is fed by 21 tributaries, among them the Marionoak, Ring, Wilson, Stitt, Huskisson, Stanley, Heemskirk, Paradise, Owen Meredith, Savage, Whyte, and Donaldson rivers. Its waters eventually discharge into Hardwicke Bay, part of the Southern Ocean.

Two dams—Bastyan and Reece—create Lake Rosebury and Lake Pieman respectively on this river. These reservoirs are integral to hydroelectric power generation managed by Hydro Tasmania within the scope of the Pieman River Power Development. The construction associated with this project also influenced local transportation infrastructure by modifying the route of the Emu Bay Railway and causing the submersion of historical railway sites such as segments of the Wee Georgie Wood Railway.

Etymology

Indigenous Tasmanians referred to this river as Corinna, a term from the Peerapper language meaning thylacine.

Despite common misconceptions, the English name of the river is not linked to Alexander Pearce—the convict nicknamed "The Pieman" known for documented acts of cannibalism in Australia. Instead, it honors Thomas Kent, a pastry chef from Southampton who was transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1816. After committing several offenses, he was imprisoned at Macquarie Harbour Penal Station in 1822. Following an escape attempt and subsequent recapture near the river’s mouth—the area now bearing his moniker—the river’s name was established. The region surrounding the Pieman River holds a rich legacy in timber harvesting, mining activities, and industrial development.