A Brief Bay History
The ABCG acknowledge the Palawa, the original custodians of this area and pay respect to their elders past, present and future.
From a European perspective, while exploring the east coast of Tasmania in 1788, Lieutenant Ball named the Bay after British Admiral George Anson. Settlement began in the 1830’s when the dominant industry was logging. The early cultural activities of the sealers, convicts and soldiers probably contributed to the naming of Seal rocks and Policeman’s Point in the area. As fishing, forestry and mining became prominent in the area, shipping was needed as the main mode of transport. This would account for the large number of shipwrecks in these dangerous waters.
The shipwrecks led to the need for a lighthouse at Eddystone Point which was first proposed around 1872, and in 1887 plans were drawn and construction began. The cultural significance of these ship designers, builders, sailors, navigators and the architects, engineers, stonemasons, labourers who built the lighthouse cannot be underestimated.
When farming became established on either private or leased land around 1900, the area changed and a new culture was introduced. While local fishing and forestry industries still operated in the area, they were in decline.
The culture in Ansons Bay began to change during the depression and after WW2, when work and a reliable income for families was difficult. However, toward the end of the century things improved considerably and, as the standard of living improved, the area became very popular for families looking for recreational pursuits. The majority of shacks in Ansons Bay were built in this period and are a reflection of post-war affluence. There is now a recognition that shacks are socially important elements of Tasmania’s community due to their role in providing family recreational opportunities, educating the next generation, and fulfilling the desire of many Tasmanians to visit and enjoy locations to which they feel a special attachment.
Currently, tourism is thriving in the Bay of Fires with the addition of mountain bike trails, guided beach walking and water based adventures, and recreational fishing.
