The Wild West Coast of Tasmania
The move of the Beach Family from Melbourne to Zeehan occurred in the early 1890's.
The wild west coast of Tasmania is a highly mineralised area with deposits including Copper, Gold, Zinc and Tin. When the family moved there it was just opening up as a new prosperous area of mine development and associated infrastructure such as Ports and Railways. There were numerous work and business opportunities for the family members to get involved.
Zeehan was established as a mining field then as a town after the Zeehan-Dundas silver-lead deposits deposits were found in 1882 by Frank Long. Mount Zeehan Post Office opened on 1 August 1888 and was renamed Zeehan in 1890. The peak period for mining was up to the First World War, though lead mining continued on up to 1963 at mines such as the Montana and Oceana. The population of Zeehan-Dundas peaked at 10,000 about 1910, over ten times the current population.It was clearly in competition with the town further south, Queenstown and while the silver boom lasted it was known as the Silver City. In the first decade of the twentieth century it was on a par with Launceston and Hobart for size. With a main street over two miles long (3.2 km), it also claimed over 20 hotels.
Queenstown was the location for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company and was formed on 29 March 1893. Mount Lyell was the dominant copper mining company of the West Coast from 1893 to 1994, and was based in Queenstown. Following consolidation of leases and company assets at the beginning of the twentieth century, Mount Lyell was the major company for the communities of Queenstown, Strahan and Gormanston.
Strahan originally developed as a port of access for the mining settlements in the area, the town was known as Long Bay or Regatta Point until 1877, when it was formally named after the colony’s Governor, Sir George Strahan. Strahan was also a vital location for the timber industry that existed around Macquarie Harbour. For a substantial part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century it also was port for regular shipping of passengers and cargo.
We can assume the family moved to Zeehan around 1892/93. Milson quickly established his Carpentry & Construction business in Zeehan. His eldest son Albert (age 25 at the time) would also have been involved with Milson and took up opportunities in building construction in his own right.
Milson built a Commercial Boarding House known as Beach Villa and his wife Lucy took on the role of managing that business.
Daughter Lucy would have been age 23 at the time. She was first married in 1890 and appears to have been living on the West Coast in 1900 when she was reported as divorcing her husband at that time. She may well have taken refuge and worked for her mother in the boarding house given those circumstance.
Ernest would have been age 17 and it is known that he went on to work in Queenstown as a postal mail sorter.
Walter would have been age 9 and no doubt continued his schooling in Zeehan. Walter ultimately moved to work in Beaconsfield and Auckland NZ and came to Queenstown to live and work after his marriage to Blanche in 1914. By that time all the other family members had moved away from the West Coast. Walter and Blanche ultimately raised their 5 children in Queenstown with their son Lindsay and his wife Rita and 3 children being the last to leave the west coast in early 1968.
The west coast of Tasmania, is therefore of great significance in the Beach family history. It was and still is a relatively isolated part of the world with wild rivers and forests.
The wild west coast of Tasmania is a highly mineralised area with deposits including Copper, Gold, Zinc and Tin. When the family moved there it was just opening up as a new prosperous area of mine development and associated infrastructure such as Ports and Railways. There were numerous work and business opportunities for the family members to get involved.
Zeehan was established as a mining field then as a town after the Zeehan-Dundas silver-lead deposits deposits were found in 1882 by Frank Long. Mount Zeehan Post Office opened on 1 August 1888 and was renamed Zeehan in 1890. The peak period for mining was up to the First World War, though lead mining continued on up to 1963 at mines such as the Montana and Oceana. The population of Zeehan-Dundas peaked at 10,000 about 1910, over ten times the current population.It was clearly in competition with the town further south, Queenstown and while the silver boom lasted it was known as the Silver City. In the first decade of the twentieth century it was on a par with Launceston and Hobart for size. With a main street over two miles long (3.2 km), it also claimed over 20 hotels.
Queenstown was the location for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company and was formed on 29 March 1893. Mount Lyell was the dominant copper mining company of the West Coast from 1893 to 1994, and was based in Queenstown. Following consolidation of leases and company assets at the beginning of the twentieth century, Mount Lyell was the major company for the communities of Queenstown, Strahan and Gormanston.
Strahan originally developed as a port of access for the mining settlements in the area, the town was known as Long Bay or Regatta Point until 1877, when it was formally named after the colony’s Governor, Sir George Strahan. Strahan was also a vital location for the timber industry that existed around Macquarie Harbour. For a substantial part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century it also was port for regular shipping of passengers and cargo.
We can assume the family moved to Zeehan around 1892/93. Milson quickly established his Carpentry & Construction business in Zeehan. His eldest son Albert (age 25 at the time) would also have been involved with Milson and took up opportunities in building construction in his own right.
Milson built a Commercial Boarding House known as Beach Villa and his wife Lucy took on the role of managing that business.
Daughter Lucy would have been age 23 at the time. She was first married in 1890 and appears to have been living on the West Coast in 1900 when she was reported as divorcing her husband at that time. She may well have taken refuge and worked for her mother in the boarding house given those circumstance.
Ernest would have been age 17 and it is known that he went on to work in Queenstown as a postal mail sorter.
Walter would have been age 9 and no doubt continued his schooling in Zeehan. Walter ultimately moved to work in Beaconsfield and Auckland NZ and came to Queenstown to live and work after his marriage to Blanche in 1914. By that time all the other family members had moved away from the West Coast. Walter and Blanche ultimately raised their 5 children in Queenstown with their son Lindsay and his wife Rita and 3 children being the last to leave the west coast in early 1968.
The west coast of Tasmania, is therefore of great significance in the Beach family history. It was and still is a relatively isolated part of the world with wild rivers and forests.
Queenstown
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