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Burnie ( ; pirinilaplu/
palawa kani Palawa kani is a constructed language created by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre as a composite Tasmanian languages, Tasmanian language, based on reconstructed vocabulary from the limited accounts of the various languages once spoken by the Abo ...
: ''Pataway'') is a
port city A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manche ...
located on the north-west coast of
Tasmania, Australia Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
. It is the fourth largest city on the island, located approximately north-west of the state capital of
Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...
, north-west of Launceston, and west of Devonport. Founded in 1827 as Emu Bay, the township was renamed in the early 1840s after William Burnie, a director of the
Van Diemen's Land Company The Van Diemen's Land Company (also known as Van Dieman Land Company) is a farming corporation in the Australian state of Tasmania. It was founded in 1825 and received a royal charter the same year, and was granted 250,000 acres (1,000 km2) ...
, and proclaimed a city by
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
on 26 April 1988. As of the , Burnie has a population of 19,918, with a
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
area spanning , administered by the
City of Burnie Burnie City Council (or City of Burnie) is a local government body in Tasmania, located in the city and surrounds of Burnie in the north-west of the state. The Burnie local government area is classified as urban and has a population of 19,348, ...
. Burnie's economy has historically been driven by heavy
manufacturing Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer ...
,
mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
,
forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...
, and
farming Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
. Situated on the
coastline A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...
of Emu Bay, the city’s fortunes are closely tied to its
deep water port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manche ...
. An
intermodal freight transport Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation (e.g., rail, ship, aircraft, and truck), without any handling of the freight itself when changing ...
facility, the Port of Burnie handles over of freight annually, including nearly half of Tasmania's
containerised freight Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers (also called shipping containers, or ISO containers). Containerization, also referred as container stuffing or container loading, is the process of uni ...
. As Tasmania's most north-westerly city, it provides the shortest
sea lines of communication Sea lines of communication (abbreviated as SLOC) is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces. It is generally used in reference to naval operations to ensure that SLOCs are open, or ...
between mainland Tasmania and
mainland Australia Mainland Australia is the main landmass of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, excluding the Aru Islands Regency, Aru Islands, New Guinea, Tasmania, and other list of islands of Australia, Australian offshore islands. The landmass ...
. The city is a key exporter of Tasmanian minerals, including
copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
,
silver Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...
,
gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
,
tin Tin is a chemical element; it has symbol Sn () and atomic number 50. A silvery-colored metal, tin is soft enough to be cut with little force, and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort. When bent, a bar of tin makes a sound, the ...
,
lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...
,
zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...
,
iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...
,
tungsten Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...
, and ultra-high purity
silica Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant f ...
, alongside forestry products such as logs,
pulpwood Pulpwood can be defined as timber that is ground and processed into a fibrous pulp. It is a versatile natural resource commonly used for Papermaking, paper-making but also made into low-grade wood and used for chips, energy, pellets, and engineered ...
, and
wood chips Woodchips are small- to medium-sized pieces of wood formed by cutting or chipping larger pieces of wood such as trees, branches, logging residues, stumps, roots, and wood waste. Woodchips may be used as a biomass solid fuel and are raw materia ...
. The Burnie Chip Export Terminal, often referred to as the "Pyramids of Burnie", surpassed of annual wood chip exports in 2017. During the 1970s and 1980s, Burnie faced pollution challenges linked to
titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania , is the inorganic compound derived from titanium with the chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or Colour Index Internationa ...
production. From the 1990s, the city experienced significant industrial decline, with the closure of several manufacturing plants and the eventual shutdown of its
pulp and paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt, ...
. This downturn led to population decline and high unemployment, presenting economic hardships and uncertainty for the community. In recent years, Burnie has been positioning itself as a future leader in Tasmania’s
renewable energy Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable resource, renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human lifetime, human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind pow ...
sector. By 2024, the city is set to be a key player in the proposed North West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a project designed to foster investment in large-scale
wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...
and
solar Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicate t ...
energy developments. The
Marinus Link Marinus Link is a proposed 750 megawatt capacity high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnector, to strengthen the connection between the Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria, on Australia's National Electricity Market. Due t ...
, a high-voltage direct current submarine power cable, is also planned to connect Tasmania’s renewable energy supply to mainland Australia, potentially generating 1,400 local jobs and bringing an estimated $3 billion in economic investment. Current proposals for the region include the Guildford and Hellyer Wind Farms, as well as Australia’s first synthetic
electrofuel Electrofuels, also known as e-fuels, are a class of synthetic fuels which function as drop-in replacement fuels for internal combustion engines. They are manufactured using captured carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, together with Hydrogen fuel, ...
facility. Other growing sectors in Burnie include education, healthcare, and logistics, contributing to its economic diversification.


History


Early history (1827–1875)

Burnie's history is closely tied to the establishment of the
Van Diemen's Land Company The Van Diemen's Land Company (also known as Van Dieman Land Company) is a farming corporation in the Australian state of Tasmania. It was founded in 1825 and received a royal charter the same year, and was granted 250,000 acres (1,000 km2) ...
(VDL Company) in the early 19th century. In 1824, a group of wool merchants, bankers, investors, and woollen mill owners gathered in London to explore the idea of creating a land company in Van Diemen's Land, following the model of the
Australian Agricultural Company The Australian Agricultural Company (AACo; ) is a public-listed Australian company that, as of 2018, owns and operates feedlots and farms covering around of land in Queensland and the Northern Territory, roughly one percent of Australia's land ...
in the
Colony of New South Wales The Colony of New South Wales was a colony of the British Empire from 1788 to 1901, when it became a State of the Commonwealth of Australia. At its greatest extent, the colony of New South Wales included the present-day Australian states of New ...
. With backing from
William Sorell William Sorell (1775 – 4 June 1848) was a soldier and third Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. Early life Sorell was born probably in the West Indies, the eldest son of Lieutenant-general William Alexander Sorell and his wife Jane. So ...
, a former lieutenant governor, and
Edward Curr Edward Curr (1 July 1798 – 16 November 1850) was an Australian settler and politician. Curr was born in Sheffield, England. He travelled to Hobart Town, arriving in February 1820. In 1823 he returned to England. In 1824 he was appointed m ...
, who had recently returned from the colony, they established the VDL Company, with William Burnie its inaugural Governor of Company. They applied to
Lord Bathurst Earl Bathurst, of Bathurst in the County of Sussex, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. The medieval English word was Botehurst, thought to date at least from the 13th century. Bote is the origination of Battle, although the family ma ...
for a grant of , while Bathurst approved a smaller allotment of , the company received a
Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
in 1825, giving it broad authority to cultivate land, and build housing and wharves to support colonial development within a area in North-West Tasmania. Oakleigh Park, close to Burnie’s business centre, is the birthplace of Burnie and the cradle of the northwest coast. In 1827, chief surveyor of the VDL Company,
Henry Hellyer Henry Hellyer (1790 – September 1832) was an English surveyor and architect who was one of the first exploration, explorers to visit the rugged interior of the north west of Tasmania, Australia and made the most comprehensive maps of the area up ...
, camped beside Whalebone Creek there. With approval from the Company’s chief agent, Edward Curr, Hellyer selected Emu Bay as the port to service the Company’s inland holdings at
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
and Surrey Hills, located around inland. A year later, government surveyor
John Helder Wedge John Helder Wedge (1793 – 22 November 1872) was a surveyor, explorer and politician in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia).G. H. Stancombe'Wedge, John Helder (1793 - 1872), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition Early life ...
recommended Emu Bay be reserved as an official township due to its strategic value for
shipping Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...
. Still, the VDL Company was already occupying the area. At that time, the Emu Bay settlement consisted of a store, a small jetty, a sawpit, and a few huts. Hellyer also cut the Old Surrey Road through dense
rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...
, establishing the first road on the North West Coast, starting from the South Burnie beach. However, Burnie’s settlement wasn’t peaceful. Between 1828 and 1832,
Tarenorerer Tarenorerer, also known as Walyer, Montserrat, Tuculillo, or Walloa ( – 5 June 1831), was a rebel leader of the Aboriginal Tasmanians. Between 1828 and 1830, she led a Guerrilla warfare, guerrilla band of Indigenous Australians, indigenous people ...
, a
Tommeginne Northern Tasmanian, or Tommeginne (Tommeeginnee), is an Aboriginal language of Tasmania in the reconstruction of Claire Bowern.Claire Bowern, September 2012, "The riddle of Tasmanian languages", ''Proc. R. Soc. B'', 279, 4590–4595, doi: 10 ...
woman who had escaped from
sealers Sealer may refer either to a person or ship engaged in seal hunting, or to a sealant; associated terms include: Seal hunting * Sealer Hill, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica * Sealers' Oven, bread oven of mud and stone built by sealers around 1800 ...
, became the leader of the Emu Bay people (Plairhekehillerplue). She led a resistance against settlers during the Black War, attacking VDL Company employees until she was eventually captured. Alexander Goldie, the first superintendent of the Company's land assets around Emu Bay, led armed attacks against the Plairhekehillerplue clan. In 1828, Goldie and his men massacred several people inland from the settlement and in August 1829 they murdered a native woman at Emu Bay by shooting her and cutting her neck with an axe. Goldie then kidnapped the woman's five-year-old daughter and another woman. After an investigation, Goldie resigned from his position. Meanwhile, the VDL Company faced difficulties. By 1833, sheep farming at Surrey Hills had failed due to cold conditions, resulting in the near abandonment of the area. Throughout the 1840s, the VDL Company began leasing bush blocks to tenant farmers, although Burnie’s growth remained slow. In 1843, the town was surveyed by Nathaniel Kentish and renamed after William Burnie, then serving as one of eighteen directors of the VDL Company. By 1853, Burnie had a population of approximately 200, with basic services such as a doctor and clergyman located in
Port Sorell Port Sorell is a town on the north-central coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is on the waterway of the same name, just off Bass Strait, 20 km east of Devonport, Tasmania, Devonport and close to Shearwater, Tasmania, Shearwater and Hawley Be ...
, and a lawyer and banker in Launceston. Transport and communication systems were rudimentary at this time, with no metal roads or established wharves. Nevertheless, the first official birth registrations in Burnie began that year. Burnie’s first school was opened in 1862 by Mrs. Mary Morris in West Burnie, followed by the construction of the first government school on a rocky hill off Wilmot Street. In 1875, the VDL Company established its headquarters in Oakleigh (now Oakleigh Park), which remained in Burnie until the early 1950s. Burnie became the base for developing the region’s road and rail infrastructure.


Mineral boom and industrial development (1876–1939)

In the late 1870s, modern communication systems arrived, with the telegraph and telephone reaching Burnie. A horse-drawn tramway on wooden rails was established to connect Burnie to
Waratah Australia’s famous waratah (genus ''Telopea'') is an Australian-endemic genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees, native to the southeastern parts of Australia (New South Wales, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, and Tasmania). The be ...
. The VDL Company later upgraded this tramway to iron and steam, facilitating the transport of tin from the
Mount Bischoff Mount Bischoff is a mountain and former tin mine in the north-western region of Tasmania, Australia. The mountain is situated adjacent to Savage River National Park, near the town of Waratah. Location and features The mountain was named in t ...
mine, which commenced Burnie’s role as the west coast’s export gateway for minerals. By the 1880s, Burnie's fortunes had dramatically improved as west coast mineral deposits were discovered. The
Emu Bay Railway Company The Emu Bay Railway was a Tasmania, Australian railway company. The railway was significant during full operation, in that it linked the Tasmanian Government Railways system at Burnie with that at Zeehan that further linked to the Mount Lyell ...
extended the railway to
Zeehan Zeehan is a town on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia south-west of Burnie. It is part of the West Coast Council, along with the seaport Strahan and neighbouring mining towns of Rosebery and Queenstown. History The greater Zeehan a ...
by 1900, propelling the town's population to over 1,500. During this time, Burnie’s business district rapidly grew, thanks to improved port facilities and the expansion of the town's infrastructure. By 1900, T. Wiseman's motor coach service was operating between Burnie and Stanley, reflecting Burnie's growing importance as a regional transport hub. A major turning point occurred in 1936 with the development of the
pulp and paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt, ...
in South Burnie. Constructed by Associated Pulp and Paper Mills (APPM), by 1939 the mill produced of fine paper annually, the first time in the world that paper was made entirely from eucalypt pulp. This industrial expansion caused a surge in employment and population growth, setting Burnie on the path to becoming an industrial powerhouse.


Post-war boom and industrial expansion (1940–1980s)

The post-war era saw Burnie become synonymous with industry. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, APPM expanded its workforce to around 3,500 employees, while other secondary industries, including pigment producer
Tioxide British Titan Products was the manufacturer of Tioxide, a brand of white yet opaque pigment and whitening agent made from titanium dioxide. It was initially organised to replace titanium dioxide supplies that British paint manufacturers imported fro ...
and
North West Acid North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...
, were established. This industrial boom led to Burnie’s official recognition as a city in 1988. At its peak in the mid 1980s, Burnie had a population exceeding 20,500, thriving as a bustling industrial centre. However, the town's success came with environmental consequences. During the 1970s, the production of
titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania , is the inorganic compound derived from titanium with the chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or Colour Index Internationa ...
by Tioxide led to heavy pollution, turning the sea rust-red from effluent. Burnie also developed a reputation as one of Tasmania’s most polluted towns, a situation highlighted by the Australian band
Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...
in their song “
Burnie Burnie ( ; Aboriginal Tasmanians#North, pirinilaplu/palawa kani: ''Pataway'') is a port city located on the North West Tasmania, north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is the fourth largest city on the island, located approximately north ...
,” which criticised the town’s environmental issues.


Challenges and reinvention (1980s–present)

The rationalisation of Australian industry during the 1980s and 1990s dealt a severe blow to Burnie. APPM downgraded its operations and eventually closed the pulp mill in 2010, leading to significant job losses. Other closures followed, including the
Caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder ...
mining machinery Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a lab ...
factory, triggering a period of economic uncertainty for the town. Despite these setbacks leading to unstable population and inconsistent investment, Burnie began to reinvent itself in the 1990s. The Lion cheese-making factory remained a major employer, and efforts were made to diversify the city’s economy. By the 2000s, Burnie shifted toward tourism and the arts. It became known for its clean beaches, inclusion on the annual cruise ship itinerary, and its growing community of artists and makers. In 2016,
Elphinstone Group Elphinstone Group is an Australian privately held company that manufactures and assembles heavy equipment for the mining industry. It has facilities in Burnie, Tasmania and in Victoria. The corporate group includes the William Adams Caterpillar ...
, previously a designer and manufacturer for Caterpillar equipment in Australia, relaunched its original brand and developed the Haulmax 3900 series off-highway
haul truck Haul trucks are off-road, heavy-duty dump trucks specifically engineered for use in high-production mining and exceptionally demanding construction environments. Most are dual axle; at least two examples of tri-axles were made in the 1970s. Hau ...
. The company continues to be a major local employer, with a workforce of 2,500 people. Today, Burnie positions itself as the gateway to Tasmania’s northwest, including the
Tarkine The Tarkine ( Indigenous name: takayna), officially takayna / the Tarkine, is an area containing the Savage River National Park in North West Tasmania, Australia, which contains significant areas of wilderness. The Tarkine is noted for its be ...
forest, and as a hub for new industries and outdoor recreation.


Demographics

Burnie had a population of 19,918 according to the , making it one of the key urban centres in
North West Tasmania North West Tasmania is one of the regions of Tasmania in Australia. The region comprises the whole of the north west, including the ''North West Coast'' and the northern reaches of the ''West Coast''. It is usually accepted as extending as fa ...
. Historically, Burnie has experienced periods of rapid growth, particularly in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, followed by fluctuations in more recent decades, with some signs of stabilisation and recovery in the 21st century. While 2023 State Government growth estimates are positive, Burnie is yet to recover to population levels experienced in the mid 1980s. At the 2021 census, Burnie's population is slightly older compared to national averages, with a significant portion (around 19%) aged 65 and over. This reflects a trend of ageing populations common in regional areas. Economically, Burnie is a working-class hub with a median household income of $1,148 per week, lower than the national median of $1,746. The city's unemployment rate was around 8.1%, higher than the national rate of 5.1%. These figures suggest some economic challenges in the area, although Burnie's role as a regional port and industrial centre still gives it economic significance within Tasmania. Burnie also has a notable Indigenous population, with around 8.5% of residents identifying as
First Nations people First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...
or
Torres Strait Islander Torres Strait Islanders ( ) are the Indigenous Melanesians, Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal peoples of the res ...
, higher than the national figure of 3.2%. This reflects Tasmania's broader demographics where Indigenous representation is above the national average. The majority of residents (84.4%) were born in Australia, with smaller populations from
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
(2.4%),
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
(0.9%),
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
(0.8%),
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
and the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
(0.4%), and
mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...
(0.3%). English is the dominant language, spoken by 90.2% of residents at home, while 5.9% of households speak a non-English language. In terms of religion, 53.4% of Burnie's population reported no religious affiliation, while 38.8% identified with a
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
denomination, including 11.4% as
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
and 11.2% as
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
. Other religious groups include
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
(0.9%),
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
(0.7%),
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
(0.6%), and
Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...
(0.2%).


Climate

Burnie has an
oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen climate classification, Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of co ...
( Köppen: ''Cfb''), with mild, relatively dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Seasonal variation is low due to its seaside location along the
Bass Strait Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The ...
. Average maxima range from in February to in July, while average minima from in February to in July. Mean annual rainfall is moderate, averaging spread on 158 days, and is concentrated in winter. The town is fairly cloudy, with 141.1 cloudy days and only 51.7 clear days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from on 14 July 1967 to on 31 January 2009. Sunshine data were sourced from Elliott, a rural locality west-southwest of Burnie.


Governance

There are nine
councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...
s that govern the Burnie City Council, each serving four-year terms. Teeny Brumby was elected
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
of the
City of Burnie Burnie City Council (or City of Burnie) is a local government body in Tasmania, located in the city and surrounds of Burnie in the north-west of the state. The Burnie local government area is classified as urban and has a population of 19,348, ...
in 2022. The
council A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
oversees Burnie's infrastructure, community services, and local regulations. The council also plays a key role in fostering the arts and supporting projects like the Burnie Arts and Function Centre. Burnie’s political landscape is shaped by a mix of conservative and independent influences, reflecting broader trends in Tasmania’s evolving political dynamics. At the state level, Burnie falls within the
Tasmanian House of Assembly The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Tasmanian Legislative Council, Legislative Council or Upper House. It sits in Parliament House, Hobart, Parliament Hou ...
’s electoral division of Division of Braddon (state), Braddon, a multi-member electorate that includes both Tasmanian Labor Party, Labor and Tasmanian Liberal Party, Liberal members. Nationally, Burnie is located in the Electorates of the Australian House of Representatives, federal electorate of Division of Braddon, Braddon, currently represented by Anne Urquhart of the Australian Labor Party. Braddon has traditionally been a marginal seat, with representation often alternating between the Australian Labor Party, Labor and Liberal parties in federal elections. In the Australian Senate, Tasmania is represented by six senators, including Jacquie Lambie, the leader and founder of the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN). Lambie, a well-known political figure, resides in Burnie, where she maintains significant support.


Economy

Burnie's economy has long been shaped by its key industries of heavy manufacturing, forestry, and farming, with the Port of Burnie playing a central role. Historically, the port became the main hub for exporting minerals from Tasmania's west coast after the Emu Bay Railway opened in 1897, cementing Burnie’s status as an industrial centre. The railway and the port served as the backbone of Burnie's early industry, driving the city’s growth and development. Over time, the agriculture industry, once prominent in the region, shifted focus following the handover of the Surrey Hills and Hampshire Hills lots. This transition marked the rise of the forestry sector, which began to dominate Burnie’s economy in the 20th century. Forestry played a pivotal role in the city’s development, particularly with the establishment of the Associated Pulp and Paper Mill (APPM) in 1938. The founding of the
pulp and paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt, ...
marked a significant industrial milestone for Burnie, positioning it as a key player in Australia’s paper production. The city also became a centre for Woodchips, woodchip exports, with the construction of the woodchip terminal further bolstering its role in the forestry supply chain. However, the decline of the paper industry signaled a major economic shift for Burnie. The closure of the APPM in 2010, after a failed attempt to secure a buyer, marked the end of an era for one of the city's most iconic industries. Despite the mill’s closure, forestry remains an important part of Burnie's economy, with woodchip exports continuing through the Burnie Chip Export Terminal, colloquially known as the "Pyramids of Burnie". While heavy manufacturing and forestry continue to be significant, Burnie has sought to diversify its economy in recent years, exploring opportunities in renewable energy, tourism, and education.


Emerging industry


Marinus Link

The
Marinus Link Marinus Link is a proposed 750 megawatt capacity high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnector, to strengthen the connection between the Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria, on Australia's National Electricity Market. Due t ...
project is expected to further boost Burnie's economy. This $3.5b (2021) project will connect Heybridge, Tasmania, Heybridge to Waratah Bay, Victoria via of high voltage direct current submarine power cable, supplying renewable energy to the Australian mainland. Supporting infrastructure, including the North West Transmission Developments, will reinforce Burnie’s position as a renewable energy hub. The project is expected to generate 1,400 local jobs and contribute $3b in direct economic investment while supplying enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes and significantly reducing carbon emissions. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2030.


E-fuels facility

Burnie was chosen as the site for Australia’s first commercial-scale e-fuels facility due to Tasmania's 100% renewables grid, its deep water port facilities and its proximity to Forico’s Surrey Hills plantation. This nationally significant, $1b facility will produce up to of carbon-neutral e-fuels annually, helping to decarbonise industries that still rely on liquid fuels, such as aviation,
shipping Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...
, and heavy transport. By using renewable energy to power its processes, the plant aims to reduce global carbon emissions by approximately per year, equivalent to decarbonising 52,000 cars. Designed by France’s Technip Energies, Technip Energies NV, the facility is set to be active by 2028 and create 200 permanent jobs.


Wind farms

Several wind farm projects proposed in the surrounding region, notably the Guildford and Hellyer Wind Farms, located south of Burnie, are part of Tasmania's broader push to increase its renewable energy capacity. These wind farms are expected to generate significant power, contributing to the state's goal of 200% renewable energy by 2040.


Cultural and educational institutions

Burnie has long been a hub for cultural, educational, and health services in the northwest region of Tasmania. At the heart of its cultural precinct is th
Burnie Arts & Function Centre
which replaced the old Burnie Theatre in 1965. Originally known as the Civic Centre, this multi-functional venue is an important space for the community, hosting performances, events, and exhibitions that attract visitors from across the region. The centre is also home to one of Australia's largest regional art galleries, which opened in 1978, and the Burnie Regional Museum, designed by architects Leith and Bartlett, which houses the historic Federation Street—the first indoor streetscape of its kind in the country. In 2021, plans for a new $18m North West Museum and Art Gallery, designed by Gerard Reinmuth, Terrior Architects, were abandoned. Instead, the focus shifted toward enhancing and consolidating the region’s existing cultural facilities. The Burnie Library (formerly known as the Hellyer Regional Library) is part of the Libraries Tasmania network, serving as a major community resource, offering public access to books, digital resources, and research materials. The library also plays an important role in Burnie’s educational and cultural landscape, providing services for children, secondary education, technical college and other tertiary education, tertiary students. In late 2024, during the temporary closure of the Burnie Library, a pop-up library was operated within the Burnie Regional Museum to continue providing services to the community. This temporary arrangement highlighted the collaborative efforts between cultural institutions in Burnie. In addition to these cultural landmarks, Burnie provides essential health services through the North West Regional Hospital, located on Brickport Road. As the third-largest hospital in Tasmania, it offers a range of in-patient and out-patient services, including general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, psychiatry, and paediatrics, playing a vital role in the well-being of the wider community. Burnie is also home to key educational institutions, including th
Cradle Coast campus
of the University of Tasmania (UTAS), where the Cuthbertson Research Laboratories are part of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research. The town also hosts campuses for the Tasmania Tomorrow#The Tasmanian Polytechnic, Tasmanian Polytechnic and Tasmania Tomorrow#The Tasmanian Academy, Tasmanian Academy, ensuring a range of learning opportunities for students in the region. Alongside these, Burnie boasts numerous sporting and social organisations that contribute to the vibrant community life.


Transport

Burnie Airport is located in the adjacent town of Wynyard, Tasmania, Wynyard, a 20-minute drive from the central business district. Burnie Port, operated by TasPorts, is Tasmania's largest general cargo port. It is the nearest Tasmanian port to Melbourne and Mainland Australia. The 1969 built shiploader was upgraded in 2024 doubling the ports capacity. Burnie is served by TasRail services on the Melba railway line, Melba and Western railway line, Tasmania, Western lines, Burnie was previously the terminus of the former Emu Bay Railway. Burnie had passenger rail services including the ''Tasman Limited'' until the mid-1970s. The rise of road transport and declining demand led to the discontinuation of passenger services. Burnie is connected with Devonport via the four-lane Bass Highway, Tasmania, Bass Highway and a rail link used for freight purposes. Burnie is also connected to the West Coast, Tasmania, West Coast by the Murchison Highway. Metro Tasmania operate local bus services around the city and its suburbs. Redline Coaches operate a service to Smithton, Tasmania, Smithton. Tassielink Transit operate services to Strahan, Tasmania, Strahan.


Coastal pathway

In October 2024, a 13 kilometre coastal pathway between Burnie and Wynyard, Tasmania, Wynyard on the former Western railway line, Tasmania, Western railway line opened.


Suburbs

The city of Burnie consists of a number of small suburbs including Parklands, Park Grove, Shorewell Park, Acton, Montello, Hillcrest, Terrylands, Upper Burnie, Romaine, Havenview, Emu Heights, South Burnie and Wivenhoe.


Sport

Australian rules football is popular in Burnie. The city's team is the Burnie Dockers Football Club in the Tasmanian Football League, Tasmanian State League. Their ground is West Park Oval. Rugby union is also played in Burnie. The local club is the Burnie Rugby Union Club. They are the current Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide Division Two Premiers and were promoted to the Statewide First Division for the 2008 season. Soccer is also represented in Burnie, with Burnie United FC having four teams compete in the northern premier league; the women's team, under 18 team, reserve team and division one team. They also have youth sides in the under 14 and under 16 competitions. Their ground is located in Montello, Tasmania. Burnie hosts an ATP Challenger Tour tennis event, the Burnie International, during the week following the Australian Open. Athletics events include the annual Burnie Gift and Burnie Ten. Archery is also represented in Burnie, with Burnie Bowmen Archery Club. They were founded in 1958 and have influenced the development of archery along the northwest coast of Tasmania. Its first target championship was held in 1959. In 1972 Burnie Bowmen Archery Club was given the honor of holding the first national championships to be held outside of a capital city. In 2017 Burnie Bowmen Archery club hosted Archery for the XVI Australian Masters Games. In 2020 and 2021 they were to host the National Youth Archery Championships and National Archery Championships, but due to COVID-19 these events were cancelled. Presently, Target and Clout shoots are conducted at Parklands High School Oval in Romaine, Burnie. Indoor is conducted at the Upper Burnie Memorial Hall. Field is conducted at the Blythe Scout Camp at Heybridge.


Media

''The Advocate (Tasmania), The Advocate'' newspaper was established in 1890 servicing the North West region. The mailroom is located in Burnie whilst the local press operations ceased in mid-2008 and were relocated to Launceston. Burnie has access to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, Special Broadcasting Service, SBS, TVT (TV station), WIN, TNT (Australian TV station), Seven Tasmania and TDT (TV station), 10 stations as well as all new free to air television stations. There are two commercial radio stations, 7BU at 100.9 MHz on the FM band and Sea FM on 101.7 on the FM band. Many Melbourne radio stations can be received in Burnie.


Notable people

* Country music singer Jean Stafford (musician), Jean Stafford OAM was a resident of Burnie in the 1960s and early 1970s when she was a young wife and mother at the beginning of her career. Her family still reside in the area. * Zima Anderson – actress in ''Neighbours'' who played Roxy Willis * Taran Armstrong – basketball player * Cameron Baird – Australian soldier, posthumously awarded the VC for actions in Afghanistan * Jamie Cox – cricketer * Josh Earl (comedian), Josh Earl – comedian and former host of Spicks and Specks (2014 TV series), Spicks and Specks * Dale Elphinstone – founder of
Elphinstone Group Elphinstone Group is an Australian privately held company that manufactures and assembles heavy equipment for the mining industry. It has facilities in Burnie, Tasmania and in Victoria. The corporate group includes the William Adams Caterpillar ...
and Tasmania's wealthiest person as of 2019 * Hannah Gadsby – Comedian * Brendon Gale – AFL player – Richmond Football Club * David Guest (field hockey), David Guest – Australian field hockey player. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist * Justin Heazlewood – Australian songwriter, author, actor and humorist also known as The Bedroom Philosopher * Eddie Jones (rugby union), Eddie Jones – current head coach of the Australian Wallabies National Rugby Team and former coach of the English and Japanese rugby union football teams. * Matthew Knight (basketball), Matthew Knight – basketball player, three-time List of NBL champions, NBL champion (2013–14 NBL season, 2014, 2015–16 NBL season, 2016, 2016–17 NBL season, 2017) * Jon Kudelka – cartoonist * Jacqui Lambie – Senator for Tasmania – Jacqui Lambie Network * Marcus Marshall – Australian racing driver * Brody Mihocek – AFL player – Collingwood Football Club * Vicki O'Halloran – Administrator of the Northern Territory * Eli Templeton – AFL player – St Kilda Football Club * Lachie Weller – AFL player – Fremantle Football Club and Gold Coast Suns * Maverick Weller – AFL player – Gold Coast Suns and St Kilda Football Club * Shaun Young – cricketer


References


Sources

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External links


Burnie City Council

Watch historical footage of Burnie, Hobart, Launceston and the rest of Tasmania
from the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's collection. {{Authority control Burnie, Tasmania, Burnie Cities in Tasmania