Tullah, Tasmania

Tullah
Town
Population
• Total	202
• Density	Template:Infobox settlement/densdisp
Time zone	UTC+10:00 (AEST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+11:00 (AEDT)

Tullah is a small town located within Tasmania's northern West Coast Range, approximately 111 kilometers southward from Burnie. It has an estimated population of around 202 residents.

Town

The settlement is split into two distinct parts: the older northern area, originally called Mount Farrell, which was founded in 1900 following the discovery of silver-lead ore deposits, and a more recently developed southern section that was planned. The Mount Farrell Post Office commenced operations in 1900 and was renamed to Tullah in 1910.

Hydro era

Between the 1970s and early 1990s, Tullah expanded toward the south as a construction hub for Hydro Tasmania during the Pieman Scheme hydroelectric project, with its population reaching approximately 2,500 at its height. Currently, the town functions mainly as a community situated on the shores of Lake Rosebery and is known as a destination for fishing enthusiasts. Prior to improved road connectivity, access was primarily via the Wee Georgie Wood Railway, initially referred to as the North Farrell Tramway.

Railway

The railway fleet consisted of four locomotives: Krauss "Puppy," Orenstein and Koppel, Wee Georgie Wood, and Wee Mary. The Krauss locomotive "Puppy," built in 1892 and nicknamed for its distinctive high-pitched whistle, was later transferred to the Ida Bay Railway where it remains operational. Wee Georgie Wood has undergone restoration efforts and has operated sporadically; as of 2010, it was being restored while a diesel engine served on the short track. Most of the original railway line now lies submerged beneath Lake Rosebery; however, a segment near the Murchison Highway continues to operate as the Wee Georgie Wood Railway. This railway uses a two-foot (610 mm) gauge and includes surviving elements of other rolling stock and locomotives. The remaining 600-meter portion beyond the highway has been repurposed into part of Mackintosh Dam Road. Additionally, there was a small timber tramway extending roughly 7 kilometers south from Tullah.

Tullah appears in Richard Flanagan's novel The Sound of One Hand Clapping, published in 1997.

Local amenities

Within Tullah, visitors and residents can find a cafe, a post office offering reception, mailing, bill payment, and banking services, as well as accommodation options such as Tullah Tavern and Tullah Lakeside Lodge. Other local businesses include a teddy bear shop and a woodworking store. Recreational facilities feature a football oval and an online access centre.

Mobile connectivity has improved markedly following the installation of a mobile tower at Tullah Lakeside Lodge. For television reception, internet-based services—primarily Starlink—provide optimal access with download speeds reaching up to 302 Mbps and upload speeds around 47 Mbps. Additional options include ADSL2 and VSAT satellite connections.

The town is positioned along Lake Rosebery, where a boat ramp located on Farrell Street supports launching small watercraft.

Local attractions

The surrounding environment hosts native wildlife such as wombats, possums, wallabies, tiger quolls, and occasionally Tasmanian devils.

Nearby communities include Rosebery, Zeehan, Queenstown, Strahan, and Waratah. The area is also in proximity to notable sites like Cradle Mountain and Montezuma Falls (accessible via Rosebery).

The region contains several lakes including Mackintosh, Pieman, Murchison, Plimsoll, and Herbert. Local rivers encompass the Mackintosh, Sophia (located at Lake Mackintosh’s southern end), Murchison, Pieman, Que, Fossey rivers along with tributaries such as Animal Creek.

Nearby infrastructure features Murchison Dam and Sophia Adit—a mining-style tunnel linking Murchison Dam with Lake Mackintosh—as well as Mackintosh Dam and Tullabardine Dam. Boat ramps provide access points to Lake Mackintosh.