| Derby Tasmania | |
|---|---|
 Main Street, Derby | |
  Derby | |
| Coordinates | 41°09′S 147°48′E / 41.150°S 147.800°E |
| Population | 109 (SAL 2021)[1] |
| • Density | 2.69/km2 (7.0/sq mi) |
| Established | 1874 |
| Postcode(s) | 7264 |
| Elevation | 164 m (538 ft) |
| Area | 77.7 km2 (30.0 sq mi) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Dorset Council |
| State electorate(s) | Bass |
| Federal division(s) | Bass |
Derby (/ˈdɜːrbi/ DUR-bee)[2] is a town in north-east Tasmania, Australia, situated at the confluence of the Cascade and Ringarooma Rivers.
Originally established in the 1870s during Tasmania's mining boom, Derby flourished as a hub for tin mining and timber milling. Derby reached its peak in the late 19th century, when its population reached over 3,000, and the Briseis Mine was producing upwards of 120 tonnes (120 long tons; 130 short tons) of tin per month.[3]
On 4 April 1929, the Briseis Dam, which was used by the mine, burst after heavy rains and the Cascade River flooded the town, killing 14 people.[4] The mine eventually reopened in 1934 although it never reached the same level of output as it had in the last century and closed in 1948.[5]
Derby has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2015, emerging as a premier adventure tourism destination for mountain biking in Australia, hosting international enduro events for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2017, 2019 and 2023.[6]
Echoes of Derby's mining heyday are evidenced by prominent landmarks such as the rebuilt Cascade Dam and the imposing Mt Paris Dam, now engulfed by dense myrtle forest upstream. The Tin Dragon Trail monument and graveyard serves as a reminder of the township's Chinese tin miners. Another relic of the past is the Derby Tunnel, a venture of the 1880s aimed at relocating mining waste.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Derby (Tas.) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
- ^ "Derby: Old mining town notable for its excellent Tin Mine Centre museum". The Age. 8 February 2004. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "BRISEIS DAM DISASTER". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay And Burnett Advertiser. No. 18, 534. Queensland, Australia. 21 June 1929. p. 6. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "TIN MINING". The Mercury. Vol. CXLII, no. 20, 099. Tasmania, Australia. 26 March 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Shaw, Rob (1 April 2023). "UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup graces Blue Derby". The Examiner (Tasmania). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
