West Coast Range

The West Coast Range is a mountain chain situated in Tasmania's West Coast area of Australia, positioned to the west and north of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Renowned for its mineral-laden geology within the Mount Read Volcanics, this range supports a variety of mining ventures. To the east lie neighboring ranges such as the Engineer Range, Raglan Range, Eldon Range, and Sticht Range. In contrast to these mainly west–east trending ranges, the West Coast Range stretches in a north–south direction along the volcanic arc of Mount Read.

The land within the range is utilized for Hydro Tasmania’s dam catchments, mining activities, transportation networks, and heritage locations. Of the former settlements, only Gormanston continues to be inhabited within this mountainous area.

Geographical features

The landscape has been influenced by elements such as glaciation from the south in the King River Valley and around the Tyndall peaks, combined with the north-south alignment of the West Coast Range.

Mountains

This range comprises many mountains and smaller sub-ranges, several of which are notable for their elevation:

Rank	Name	Height	Location	Prominence	Notes
1	Mount Murchison	1,275 metres (4,183 ft)		760 metres (2,493 ft)
2	Mount Geikie (Tyndall Range)	1,191 metres (3,907 ft)
3	Mount Tyndall (Tyndall Range)	1,179 metres (3,868 ft)
4	Mount Jukes	1,168 metres (3,832 ft)		911 metres (2,989 ft)
5	Mount Sedgwick	1,147 metres (3,763 ft)
6	Mount Owen	1,146 metres (3,760 ft)		774 metres (2,539 ft)
7	Mount Sorell	1,144 metres (3,753 ft)		673 metres (2,208 ft)
8	Mount Dundas	1,143 metres (3,750 ft)
9	Mount Read	1,124 metres (3,688 ft)
10	Proprietary Peak	1,103 metres (3,619 ft)

This mountainous region offers significant potential for mining development and tourism owing to its challenging topography and rich mineral resources.

Minor elevations and landmarks

• Darwin Crater - likely a meteorite impact crater associated with Darwin glass
• Gooseneck Hill
• Henty Glacial Moraine
• Marble Bluff - situated near the junction of Eldon and South Eldon rivers, close to Lake Burbury's northern boundary
• Teepookana Plateau
• Thureau Hills - located beside the eastern flanks of Mount Owen and Mount Huxley
• Walford Peak - positioned near Lake Dora

Watercourses

• Anthony River - northern section of the range
• Bird River - at the southern extremity of the range
• Eldon River - found on the eastern side
• Governor River - also on the eastern side
• Henty River - along the western slopes
• King River - originates within Eldon Range, flowing between Mount Huxley and Mount Jukes; impounded by The Hydro
• Mackintosh River
• Murchison River
• Pieman River
• Queen River - passes through Queenstown and merges with King River west of Mount Huxley
• Sophia River
• South Eldon River
• Tofft River - situated between Thureau Hills and Mount Owen/Mount Huxley
• Yolande River - located between Lake Margaret and Henty River

Bodies of water

• Basin Lake - on the western flank
• Lake Adam - a feeder to Lake Margaret
• Lake Barnabas
• Lake Beatrice - lies on the eastern edge of Mount Sedgwick
• Lake Burbury - created by damming King River via The Hydro
• Lake Dora
• Lake Dorothy
• Lake Huntley - eastward of Mount Tyndall
• Lake Julia - within 'The Tyndalls' region
• Lake Mackintosh - formed by impounding Mackintosh River
• Lake Magdala - tributary feeding into Lake Margaret
• Lake Martha - also a tributary to Lake Margaret
• Lake Mary, Tasmania - another tributary of Lake Margaret
• Lake Margaret - located north of Mount Sedgwick
• Lake Monica - feeds into Lake Margaret
• Lake Murchison - established by damming Murchison River
• Lake Myra - tributary flowing into Lake Margaret
• Lake Paul - part of the tributaries to Lake Margaret
• Lake Peter - another tributary to Lake Margaret
• Lake Philip - contributes to Lake Margaret's inflow
• Lake Plimsoll
• Lake Polycarp - feeder lake to Lake Margaret
• Lake Rolleston - positioned between Tyndall and Sticht Ranges
• Lake Selina - westward of Lake Plimsoll
• Lake Spicer - located west of Eldon Peak
• Lake Tyndall - south of Mount Tyndall
• Lake Westwood - adjacent to Mount Julia

Protected areas

• Mount Farrell Regional Reserve
• Mount Murchison Regional Reserve
• Tyndall Regional Reserve
• Lake Beatrice Conservation Area
• Princess River Conservation Area
• Crotty Conservation Area
• West Coast Range Regional Reserve (Clark River Valley)

Flora

The slopes of Mount Owen, Mount Lyell, and Mount Sedgwick display remnants of forest trees killed off by smelter emissions and fires linked to early 20th-century mining. Forest destruction around Queenstown's mining zones began as early as the 1890s and continued through much of the 20th century.

A number of ancient Huon Pine specimens still grow on the inclines of Mount Read.

Owing to factors such as fire, mining operations, and human activities, much of the vegetation along the West Coast Range has been altered, with only limited areas remaining untouched since European colonization. The eastern boundary adjoins the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, where forest ecosystems are comparatively intact. Forestry conservation regions are designated along parts of the range under the terms of the Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA).

Climate

Snowfall commonly occurs during winter months at elevations above 1,000 meters throughout the mountain ranges. While weather observations were historically gathered at Lake Margaret, current meteorological data is chiefly sourced from the automated station at Mount Read, which frequently reports extreme weather events through the Bureau of Meteorology.

Rainfall levels at Lake Margaret are comparable to those recorded in Tully, recognized as one of Australia's wettest locations. The West Coast Range receives an average annual precipitation ranging between 2,800 and 3,000 millimeters.

The region is exposed to the harsh Southern Ocean and Antarctic climate influences within the Roaring Forties latitude, resulting in regular cold fronts and severe weather conditions. Since 1998, the Cape Sorell Waverider Buoy, installed by the BOM, has been tracking ocean swell patterns that align with atmospheric changes.

Previously, weather data was collected at Queenstown and Zeehan; however, contemporary records are predominantly obtained from Strahan Airport and Mount Read.

BOM number	Location name	Start record	End record	Southings	Eastings	Height	Comments
097035 97	Crotty	1917	1929	-42.2000	145.6000		(Refer to Princess River and Lake Burbury Park for comparison)
097058 97	DUNDAS	1896	1917	-41.8833	145.4333
097002 97	FARRELL SIDING	1934	1948	-41.7000	145.5500
097003 97	GORMANSTON	1895	2000	-42.0747	145.5986	380.0	(See also West Lyell)
097088 97	LAKE BURBURY PARK	1995	1996	-42.0983	145.6733	245.0
097006 97	LAKE MARGARET DAM	1912	..	-41.9939	145.5706	665.0
097020 97	LAKE MARGARET POWER STATION	1945	..	-42.0056	145.5419	320.0
097040 97	MAGNET	1906	1936	-41.5000	145.4500
097085 97	MOUNT READ	1996	..	-41.8444	145.5419	1119.5	(Active Automatic Weather Station)
097039 97	MOUNT READ (MOUNT LYELL M.&R.)	1901	1920
PILLINGER |1907 |1924 |-42.3333 |145.5333
PRINCESS RIVER |1948 |1976 |-42.0833 |145.6667 |215.0 |(Compare with Crotty, Tasmania# and Lake Burbury Park) |
QUEENSTOWN (7XS) |1964 |1995 |-42.0967 |145.5447 |129.0
QUEENSTOWN (COPPER MINE) |1906 |2005 |-42.0661 |145.5681 |191.0
QUEENSTOWN AERODROME |1968 |1988 |-42.0769 |145.5294 |262.0
QUEENSTOWN (UPPER PRINCESS CREEK) |1995 |1999 |-42.0833 |145.5286 |250.0
QUEENSTOWN (SOUTH QUEENSTOWN) |1996 |.. |-42.0972 |145.5439 |118.0
TULLAH (MEREDITH STREET) |1995 |.. |-41.7383 |145.6108 |167.0
TULLAH MINE SITE |1969 |1978 |-41.7167 |145.6333 |183.0
WILLIAMSFORD (LEVEL 5) |1965 |1971 |-41.8333 |145.5167 |853.0
WEST LYELL |1945 |2003 |-42.0622 |145.5794 |421.0 | (Located on the southwest slope of Mount Lyell, Tasmania) | } History and exploration The initial European investigations of this mountain range were carried out primarily by explorers and escaped convicts fleeing from the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station located on Sarah Island during the late 1800s. Even as late as the 1940s, some official maps still labeled certain sections as "unexplored" or "insufficiently surveyed." Many peaks visible from Macquarie Harbour received their names in honor of both supporters and critics of Charles Darwin's evolutionary theories. Between 1860 and 1862, Thomas Bather Moore assigned names such as Darwin, Geikie, Read, and the Tyndall Range, while Charles Gould designated Murchison, Sedgwick, Lyell, and Owen. Later on, peaks like Huxley and Jukes were named. There were small-scale mining communities established on the higher slopes of Mount Darwin and Mount Jukes, with a few transient camps scattered elsewhere. One of the few remaining inhabited sites within the range is Linda, situated in the Linda Valley. Meanwhile, Queenstown, located in the valley of the Queen River on the western side of Mount Owen, is effectively positioned outside the main range. Mining According to records from the Tasmanian Mines Department, minerals such as Barium, Copper, Gold, Pyrites, Silver, and Zinc have been predominantly identified throughout the West Coast region. Mining activities on the upper elevations of Mount Darwin and Mount Jukes were generally short-term endeavors; however, operations persisted longer on the mid-slopes of Mount Lyell—on its northern, western, and southern faces—and also on Mount Read’s middle to upper slopes. Mineral prospecting has taken place across nearly all named peaks in the area. Contemporary conservation initiatives now enforce limitations designed to avoid ecological harm similar to that caused by earlier mining at Mount Lyell. The Henty Gold Mine, located at the northern extremity of the range, serves as an example of mining conducted with a focus on environmental responsibility. Hydro dams The West Coast region of Tasmania has long been a focal point for hydroelectric development due to its favorable terrain. During World War I, surveys were conducted assessing the damming potential of the King River. In the 1950s and early 1960s, preliminary investigations by the Hydro-Electric Commission (HEC) further advanced these hydroelectric plans. The upper section of the Pieman scheme involved damming portions of the West Coast Range. The Henty and King River hydro projects represent some of HEC’s last major dam constructions within this locality. Pieman River Scheme Following Tasmania’s Gordon River Power Scheme and preceding both the King River and Henty River projects, the Pieman River Power Scheme entailed damming rivers originating in this mountain range. Construction commenced in 1974 and concluded by 1987, incorporating dams on the Murchison, Macintosh, and Pieman rivers. The central administrative hub was based at Tullah. Major structures included Mackintosh Dam and its power station situated north of Tullah; to the south lay Murchison Dam along with its associated lake. Bastyan Dam was constructed near Rosebery, while Reece Dam was positioned close to Corinna. King River Scheme The Crotty Dam, standing 82 meters tall and operated by Hydro Tasmania, spans the King River between Mount Huxley and Mount Jukes. Alongside Darwin Dam at Mount Darwin’s base, these structures create a reservoir known as Lake Burbury, which covers an area of approximately 54 square kilometers. Transport Initial access to the west coast was predominantly achieved by foot or by sea. Rail networks extended further inland prior to the establishment of road connections linking Hobart in the 1930s and the northern coastline during the 1960s. Railways Rail infrastructure primarily facilitated mining activities but did not traverse the West Coast Range itself: The North Mount Lyell Railway, terminating at the port of Pillinger in Kelly Basin The Mount Lyell Railway, with its port located at Regatta Point Additional lines such as the North East Dundas Tramway, which connected to the Emu Bay Railway, served mining operations situated at the bases of mountains without crossing the range. Roads The Lyell Highway was built through Linda Valley during the 1930s. In the 1980s, Hydro Tasmania constructed the Mount Jukes Road, linking Queenstown (Lynchford) with Crotty and running above King River Gorge. The Hydro also developed the Anthony Road as part of the Anthony Power Scheme, enabling access to northern areas of the range and glacial lakes including Lake Westwood, Lake Selina, and Lake Julia. Landing grounds Queenstown airport, located west of town, operated during the 1960s and 1970s but is currently unregistered. The nearest registered airport is Strahan Airport. Numerous temporary helicopter landing zones have been established to support Hydro Tasmania's projects and mineral exploration across the range. Tramways and railways Comstock Tram, situated around Mount Lyell slopes (not to be confused with Zeehan tramway) Lake Margaret Tram, near Mount Sedgwick North Mount Lyell Railway, passing through Linda Valley, King River Valley, Crotty, Darwin, Pillinger, and Kelly Basin Townsites Crotty, positioned on eastern slopes of Mount Jukes Darwin, on eastern slopes of Mount Darwin Gormanston, located on northern slopes of Mount Owen Lake Margaret area Linda, in Linda Valley between Mounts Owen and Lyell Tullah, close to Lake Rosebery Rosebery Williamsford Mine sites Henty Gold Mine Mount Jukes Mine sites, including Lake Jukes Mine Hydro sites Anthony Power Station Bastyan Power Station Crotty Dam Darwin Dam John Butters Power Station Lake Margaret Power Station Proposed power developments on Franklin River and Gordon River (cancelled during the 1980s) Main roads Lyell Highway (A10), running through Linda Valley between Mounts Owen and Lyell Henty River Road (B24), linking Henty Glacial Moraine, Lake Murchison Dam (Anthony Power Station), and Tullah Walking tracks Numerous historic trails dating from the 19th and 20th centuries continue to exist; notable among their creators was Thomas Bather Moore, who named significant features such as Mount Strahan, Thureau Hills, and Tofft River. Geological mapping Between 1986 and 1993, comprehensive geological surveys were conducted across the region, generating detailed maps for key locations including: Mt. Charter-Hellyer Rosebery-Mt. Black Henty River-Mt. Read Mt. Murchison Tyndall Range Compilation of Mount Read Volcanics (from Hellyer to south Darwin Peak) Mt. Jukes-Mt. Darwin Additional mapping covered adjacent zones beyond the central West Coast Range area. See also List of highest mountains of Tasmania Further reading Banks, M. R.; Kirkpatrick, J. B., editors. Landscape and Man: The Interaction Between Man and Environment in Western Tasmania (1977), Royal Society of Tasmania Blainey, Geoffrey. The Peaks of Lyell, 6th edition, St. David's Park Publishing, Hobart (2000) Crawford, Patsy. King: Story of a River, Montpelier Press (2000) Rae, Lou. The Abt Railway and Railways of the Lyell Region, Lou Rae, Sandy Bay (2001) Stoddart, D. Michael, editor. Walk to the West, The Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart (1993) Stringer, I. The West Coast Range: A Photographic Odyssey, I. Stringer & J. Perkins, Queenstown (2001) Whitham, Charles. Western Tasmania - A Land of Riches and Beauty, Reprint 2003, Municipality of Queenstown Whitham, Lindsay. Railways, Mines, Pubs and People and Other Historical Research, Tasmanian Historical Research Association, Sandy Bay (2002) Wilkinson, Bill. The Abels: Tasmania's Mountains Over 1100m High, Regal Publications, Launceston (1994) External links West Coast Range on Google Maps Sample images from the range Information on the World Heritage Area Hydro Tasmania