After lunch we travelled through lush green pasture land and potato crops and descended into Branxholm past harvested hop fields then onto the old mining town of Derby. Tin was mined here in the early 1900s and the town had a population of 3000 back then, many of them Chinese.
The dam on the edge of the town burst and flooded the town in 1929 and killed 17 people. The mining operations never resumed in the same way again and mining was eventually abandoned in 1948.
We visited the Tin Dragon information centre and had a fascinating look at the history of the area and time.
A spectacular film full of light and sound spread the entire breadth of this screen here brought the events of time long ago to life. It was quite breathtaking and emotional at times. It was just the right length of time to be informative and engaging for all ages and I highly recommend a visit with children.
Little pieces of the story were spied in peep holes in the floor of the mini cinema adding to the contemplation of the narration. I was so impressed with the attention to detail.
If you come to the area there are also walks you can do that continue the story and history of the area. Check out the Think Tasmania site here and do explore their related links to the area too for a full holiday or day trip experience. This would be an excellent trip with children for the school holidays.
Hello Tanya,
ReplyDeleteLoved this little town with its cute shops and river. Lots of memories of our travels to Tasmania on this post. Thanks.
Happy days.
Bev.
I thought of you this week when I was in Walmart and visited with a tourist from Queensland. Poor lady left Australia for our cooler weather only she didn't understand you come in June, not April. It is green and beautiful with cool temperatures and not brown and cold like now. In Wyoming it might officially say Spring but we have our biggest snow storms at this time of the year. We are finally getting some moisture we so desperately need ,and so she has really had a winter experience, not Spring. Just know when I want a little greenery and talk of things that don't begin to grow around here, I think of you down under in Tasmania with your seasons opposite of ours. Then I just have to pop into your blog and see what you are up to. Thank you for sharing. We have many of the same goals but a different land in which to accomplish them.
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