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Devonport, Tasmania

Devonport is a city in the north-west of Tasmania, Australia, at the mouth of the Mersey River. It, along with the slightly smaller city of Burnie, are the major regional centres of the north-west of the state. To visitors to Tasmania, it is primarily known as the port for the Spirit of Tasmania ferries - Spirit I and II travel to Melbourne, Victoria.

History

The area was first surveyed by Captain Charles Hardwicke in 1823. The area was originally known as Port Frederick, then Mersey River, the name of the river flowing through the town. Later it became two separate towns - Formby on the western side, and Torquay on the east. The towns joined to become Devonport (named for Devonport in England) in 1890. The eastern side is now called East Devonport.

Devonport was declared a city in 1981 by HRH Prince Charles. The Local Government Area is the City of Devonport. The newly elected mayor is Lyn Laycock who has taken over from Peter Hollister.

Education

Primary Schools include Devonport Primary, Miandetta Primary, East Devonport Primary,Nixon Street Primary, Spreyton Primary and Our Lady of Lourdes

Public secondary schools include Devonport High School, Reece High School and St Brendan-Shaw College.

Senior Secondary Education(Years 11 - 12) is provided by The Don College and St Brendan-Shaw College

Notable people

Joseph Lyons (The only Tasmanian to have been Prime Minister of Australia) is buried at Mersey Vale Lawn Cemetry. Dame Enid Lyons, Australia's First Female Member of the House of Representatives, resided in Devonport for many years and is buried near her husband.

Matthew Richardson, Richmond Football Club champion was born in Devonport.

Garry Lyon, former Melbourne Football Club player and media personality was born in Devonport.

Race driver John Bowe hails from Devonport.

The physicist Adrian P. Flitney.

Grant Birchall, Hawthorn Football Club AFL player.

Jade Rawlings, Hawthorn Football Club,Western Bulldogs Football Club and North Melbourne Football Club AFL player.

Brady Rawlings, North Melbourne Football Club AFL player.

Climate

Sister cities

The city of Devonport has a formal sister city agreement with Minamata City in Japan. This was ratified in 1996 .

Minamata, Japan (1996)

Devonport Airport

Devonport Airport is located approximately 7 km to the east of the city of Devonport, about a 15 min drive by car. The airport is serviced by Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, operated by QantasLink, with 4 daily services to Melbourne, Victoria.

Tasair Regional Airlines operate daily passenger and freight services from Devonport to King Island.