who were the original inhabitants of dover tasmania?

Answer 1

Well who do you think.... the aboriginals of course but they probably called the area somethinging else. Along came the convicts then the "Piners" (to cut and mill the huon pine) and a few smugglers (hence smugglers rest) for good measure.

Now the area is frequented by orchardists, fisheries, rockhounds, cavers, tourists and so on.

PS.. Tasmania's last known full blooded Aboriginal, Trucannini (born 1812) of the Lyluequonny people was born born not far away at cockle creek.

Answer 2

Shouldn't come as a surprise that convicts were involved, but here is some info:

Dover was originally established as a convict probation station. There is now little evidence of the town's penal past. All that remains is the well preserved (and privately owned) Commandant's Office which is located next to the Caravan Park on Beach Road. The best access is to turn left (or keep going straight ahead) at Rosie's Gift Shop on the Huon Highway in the centre of town.

After the convict settlement the small town developed as an important port shipping huon pine to the world. By 1850 there were a number of sawmills in the area. Some of the old steam driven timber cutting engines can still be seen in the local museum. It is claimed that the one link between Dover in England and Dover in Tasmania is that huon pine shipped from this area was used in the construction of Dover Pier.

More recently the town has become an important fishing port. There is even an Atlantic salmon farm (reputedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere - which, given that the salmon is a Northern Hemisphere fish, is hardly surprising) in the area.

Answer 3

the aboriginals were, not the "convicts".