NANCY'S     B&B

Rosebery is a Zinc and Gold mining town nestled about 145 metres above mean sea level in the cradle of several significant mountains (Murchison, Read, Black, & Queens Head) of Western Tasmania some 305 km west of Hobart. It is not like normal towns in the sense that it seems to sprawl up and down the hillside. It is a single purpose town which is clearly indicated by the MinMetals' Rosebery Zinc mine which dominates both the town and the local economy.

Historically this area of Tasmania was inaccessible and therefore resisted early European exploration. The forests were dense, the cold winds - the Roaring Forties - blew rainclouds off the Southern Ocean, and the undergrowth with its leeches and dense scrub, made travelling through the area difficult. It wasn't until 1893 that a gold prospector named Tom McDonald reached Mount Black and staked out a claim which was eventually to become the huge mine which today still drives the economy of Rosebery.

Rosebery was named after Tom McDonald's company, the Rosebery Gold Mining Company (in turn it was named after Lord Rosebery who was Prime Minister of Britain at the time), which began to work Mount Black almost immediately. After a few years the area around Rosebery was typical of a frontier mining town with locals describing it as 'a village built on the muddy slopes of Mount Black ... with another village on the boggy peat soil to the south of the Primrose mine'.

The mineral wealth of the area was quickly discovered. McDonald found gold in 1893. Zinc and lead were found in 1894 and by 1897 copper was being mined at Primrose. By 1899 the privately owned Emu Bay Railway (out of Burnie on the north coast) had reached Rosebery and greatly assisted the local economy by providing access and a good transportation route.

The economy and future of the town was fragile until 1920-21 when Electrolytic Zinc Company purchased the mines in the district, built houses for the mine workers, and invested in an elaborate aerial ropeway to move ore from the Hercules mine to Rosebery. These changes occurred over a twenty year period from 1920 to 1939.

Today, MMG's Rosebery PolyMetallic Mine (Zinc, Lead copper, Silver & Gold) is central to the economic success of the town.

The Renison Tin Project is located approximately 10km W of Rosebery and 15km NE of Zeehan on Tasmania’s West Coast. It incorporates the historic Renison Bell Mine and process plant, which has produced over 200,000 tonnes of tin and has a history of over 100 years of tin mining. Metals X (then Bluestone Tin Limited) acquired the Renison Bell Prospect in late March 2004 from the Administrator of the previous owner.

The Renison Bell Deposit is a world-class orebody, estimated to contain 26.0 million tonnes of 1.46 percent tin. The mineralisation is associated with Devonian aged granite plutons. The Renison tin mine began operation in 1890 after George Renison Bell discovered alluvial cassiterite (tin oxide). Hard rock mining began in 1936, from an iron-sulphide cassiterite strata-bound replacement body in dolomite. The Renison Bell mine became the largest tin mine in the world.

Rosebery offers exceptional outdoor experiences with fishing, canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing and walking at your doorstep. For example:

Just 10 minutes from Rosebery is the start of the track to Tasmania’s highest waterfall – Montezuma Falls – spilling 113 metres to the ground in a stunning wilderness enclave and, (and are the highest falls in Tasmania). The falls can be accessed from Williamsford which lies south of Rosebery, so don your walking boots and follow the old tram route about 5 km along (easy three hours return) or go in comfort on a four-wheel drive tour. Some guide books talk of the walk being quite difficult - leeches, slippery and wet walking trails, a simple bush track. Well worth the effort!

Constructed to move ore from the Hercules mine to Rosebery this elaborate aerial ore ropeway continued to operate until 1986. Since then it has collapsed. The remnants of this highly unusual method of ore transporation can be south of the town.

Mount Read is about 1129 m high and offers superb views of the entire area. It is also home to an automatic weather reporting station. Mount Read Road is an unsealed road that starts from a Telecom road which is about 1km south of Rosebery and comes to within 115m of the summit. It offers excellent views down on Rosebery and, on a very clear day, it is possible to see as far as Macquarie Harbour in the south.

Mount Murchison is the tallest mountain in Tasmania's West Coast Range, and rises to about 1275m, and as such was named after a critic of Charles Darwin (the less significant hills were named after supporters of Darwin). Mount Murchison is climbable, but offers adventurers a difficult level of walk. The mountain is commonly covered in snow in winter time and, like all mountains in this area, is prone to dramatic and very rapid seasonal changes.

Although it is only 712 m high, Mount Farrell does offer the scenic splendour of views across to Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair National Park. The walk to the top is relatively short (only 4 km) but in that short distance the track rises 500 metres. Again this is for experienced walkers.

There are numerous lakes and streams surrounding Rosebery for a quiet & relaxed time of Trout Fishing, and other activities to do do like, explore...

Burnie overlooks Emu Bay, on the north-west coast. This proudly industrial city is Australia’s fifth largest container port and a vibrant place to visit.
Burnie was once surrounded by dense rainforest, but this slowly disappeared as fortunes were made felling and milling timber. The paper and pulp mill on the city’s outskirts operated from 1938 to 1998.
Today, Burnie has a population of almost 20,000. You can visit the Burnie Park and animal reserve, or Australia’s biggest eucalypt tree farm. The Pioneer Village Museum will provide you with a detailed account of the city’s history, while at Lactos Cheese Factory you can treat your palate to fine wine and the 2006 World’s Best Camembert.
One of the town’s most distinctive attractions is the Creative Paper Mill, which features the work of local and visiting artists, including roo poo hand-made paper and wonderful life-size paper sculptures. You can even get your hands wet making your own paper.
Test your stamina in Australia’s premier 10-kilometre (six-mile) road race, the Burnie Ten, held every October for runners and walkers of all calibres.
Burnie is close to the Fernglade Platypus Sanctuary and Guide Falls, and approximately 70 minutes’ drive from Nancy's B&B in Rosebery.
Burnie was first explored by Bass and Flinders and was known as Emu Bay when it was settled by the Van Diemen’s Land Company in 1827.
Burnie experiences temperate conditions, with an average maximum of 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13.5 degrees Celsius (56.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.