Distance to Launceston: 42 kilometres

(Click here to view location map - C4) 

Beaconsfield is in the heart of the north eastern apple growing district, 30 minutes from Launceston on the West Tamar Highway. Like so many towns in Australia, Beaconsfield went through a series of names before reaching its present one. The town's site was originally known as Cabbage Tree Hill and, when goldmining began in the 1870s, it became known as Brandy Creek. The present name was given to the town in 1879, in honour of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Benjamin Disraeli, the Earl of Beaconsfield.

By 1881 Beaconsfield was known as the richest gold town in Tasmania, and was the State's third largest town. The mine closed in 1914, but re-opened in the 1980s, along with the Grubb Shaft Gold & Heritage Museum (open 10am-4pm), housing one of Tasmania's largest collections of memorabilia, mining artefacts and machinery.

Adjacent to the Museum is the site where miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell were trapped one kilometre underground for 14 days and fellow miner Larry Knight was killed, in April 2006. Here, from a viewing platform, you can see the lift where they emerged to freedom.

Beaconsfield is in the Tamar Valley not far from wonderful cool climate wineries, the Narawntapu National Park, the maritime heritage of Low Head and all the attractions of Launceston Tamar Valley.

Beaconsfield is a thriving town for the local area, where you'll also find arts and crafts, supermarkets, fuel, limited accommodation, bakery, chemist, post office and great coffee.