Hamilton is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Central Highlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 73 km north-west of the city of Hobart. The 2016 census recorded a population of 241 for the suburb of Hamilton.

History

Hamilton was gazetted as a locality in 1959. Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the locality "Sorell Plains", and it became locally known as "Macquarie" and "Lower Clyde". Governor George Arthur finalised a name for the locality and this was announced in 1826. Hamilton was named after William Henry Hamilton, a wealthy free settler who had arrived in Van Diemen's Land in April 1824. Hamilton Post Office opened on 1 June 1832. Hamilton was once a bustling frontier town that contained many inns and several working breweries. It contains a few small shops and buildings, such as the court house, many of them dating back to convict times.

Geography

The River Derwent (Meadowbank Lake) forms the south-western boundary. The Clyde River flows through from north to south after forming a small part of the northern boundary.

Climate

Hamilton has a oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), with tepid, relatively dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Average maxima vary from 25.6 C in January to 11.7 C in July while average minima fluctuate between 10.4 C in January and 1.2 C in July. Due to its inland location and being downwind of the Central Highlands, midsummer frost has been recorded, while foehn winds occur (primarily in summer). Mean average annual precipitation is somewhat low: 511.1 mm, spread between 148.4 precipitation days, and is concentrated in winter. Extreme temperatures have ranged from -7.8 C on 24 June 2013 to 40.7 C on 11 January 2010. Climate data was sourced from Ouse, a town 20 km southeast of Hamilton.

Road infrastructure

Route A10 (Lyell Highway) runs through from south-east to west. Route B110 (Hollow Tree Road) starts at an intersection with A10 and runs north-east until it exits. Route C182 (Thousand Acre Lane) starts at an intersection with A10 and runs east until it exits.

Notable people

Cricketer Percy Lewis was born here in 1864. Tasmanian artist Edith Lilla Holmes was born here in 1893.