Stony Head, Tasmania

Stony Head is an Australian Army artillery range and training centre in the local government area (LGA) of George Town in the Launceston LGA region of Tasmania. The range locality is about 29 kilometres (18 mi) north-east of the town of George Town. The 2016 census recorded a population of nil for the state suburb of Stony Head.[1]

Stony Head
Tasmania
Stony Head is located in Tasmania
Stony Head
Stony Head
Coordinates41°01′12″S 147°00′59″E
Populationnil (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)7252
Location29 km (18 mi) NE of George Town
LGA(s)George Town
RegionLaunceston
State electorate(s)Bass
Federal division(s)Bass
Localities around Stony Head:
Bass Strait Bass Strait Bass Strait
Beechford Stony Head Lulworth, Weymouth
Beechford Lefroy Pipers River

History

Stony Head is a confirmed locality.[2]

The Australian Army has used the site as an artillery range since 1966. The Australia Government formally acquired the area in 1997. The host unit for the range was 16th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, an Australian Army Reserve unit based in Tasmania until 2013. Maintenance and facility construction is undertaken by the Royal Australian Engineers. It has also been used by the 2nd Force Support Battalion reserves and local Australian Army Cadets units.

In 1969 a dirt airstrip was constructed capable of landing Royal Australian Air Force Caribou transport planes that was later extended to accommodate the C-130 Hercules to provide supply missions to the range. It has been used occasionally by local flying clubs via arrangement with the military.[3][4]

Geography

The waters of Bass Strait form the north-western and northern boundaries.[5]

Public access to the coastal beach areas is possible but inland has a significant risk from unexploded ordnance. The public is discouraged from moving further inland and there is a fence built around the most dangerous part of the range with guard patrols during exercises.

The range includes the location 41°0′0″S 147°0′0″E, one of the points included in the Degree Confluence Project, which aims to visit and photograph all the points with coordinates of Y°0′0″, X°0′0″.[6] The project was refused permission to visit this point, because of the danger of unexploded ordnance.[7]

Road infrastructure

Route C807 (Beechford Road) passes the locality to the west. From there access is provided by an unnamed road.[2][8]

References
  1. "2016 Census Quick Stats Stony Head (Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. "Placenames Tasmania – Stony Head". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "38107L", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  3. https://www.tassappers.com.au/history
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2hrjshibEs
  5. Google (13 September 2020). "Stony Head, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  6. "Frequently Asked Questions". Degree Confluence Project. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  7. "41°S 147°E (visit #3)". Degree Confluence Project. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. "Tasmanian Road Route Codes" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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