Kelly Basin Road

Kelly Basin Road in the 1970s

Kelly Basin Road was a road built on the formation of the former North Lyell Railway in the King River Valley of Western Tasmania. It ran to the east of the West Coast Range, from the Linda Valley, to Kelly Basin.[1][2][3]

Following the cessation of rail services on the North Lyell railway, and removal of the track, the road's provision of access into otherwise difficult areas created anticipation of a number of uses for forestry and mining activity.[4][5][6]

It was an important location for both protestors and police during the No Dams blockade in the 1980s.

Most of the formation now lies under the Lake Burbury impoundment, a result of the Hydro Tasmania King River power development scheme.

Portions of the road still exist south of the Darwin Dam, and the Bird River Bridge to Kelly Basin area is now a protected and adventure tourist location.[7][8]

  1. ^ "KELLY BASIN ROAD". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 13 October 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 8 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "GORMANSTON COUNCIL". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 19 October 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 8 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "QUEENSTOWN". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XCV, no. 59. Tasmania, Australia. 21 May 1936. p. 5 (DAILY). Retrieved 8 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "GORMANSTON COUNCIL". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 19 October 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "KELLY BASIN ROAD". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 21 May 1936. p. 8 (DAILY). Retrieved 8 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "WEST COAST NEWS". The Mercury. Vol. CXLIV, no. 20, 456. Tasmania, Australia. 21 May 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Godden Mackay Pty. Ltd; Tasmania. Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage (1991), Pillinger and Kelly Basin track conservation policy : final report, The Dept, retrieved 8 June 2018
  8. ^ Tasmania. Parks and Wildlife Service (1993), Kelly Basin-Bird River area site plan, Parks and Wildlife Service, retrieved 8 June 2018