Parattah

Parattah
Tasmania
Parattah is located in Tasmania
Parattah
Parattah
Coordinates42°21′S 147°24′E / 42.350°S 147.400°E / -42.350; 147.400
Population360 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)7120
Elevation431 m (1,414 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Southern Midlands Council
State electorate(s)Lyons
Federal division(s)Lyons
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
15.5 °C
60 °F
5.0 °C
41 °F
548.0 mm
21.6 in

Parattah is a small township in Tasmania, located approximately 6 kilometres (4 mi) southeast of the town of Oatlands. At the 2011 census, Parattah had a population of 360.[1]

Parattah Hotel, built in 1889

The area is home to about 100 families, and contains many historic buildings, such as a farmhouse which was once home to Hudson Fysh, one of the founders of Qantas, and a historic railway station. The main street contains a number of attractive dwellings dating from the town's heyday, some of which are currently undergoing restoration. The village retains the original general store, the impressive Tudor style 'Parattah Hotel' and a number of historic churches.

The first post office serving the township opened 1 June 1879 and was originally named 'Oatlands Station' until it was renamed Parattah with effect from 1 January 1882. It was located at the railway station (which, while at Parattah, was actually the official Station for Oatlands) until 8 January 1914.[2][3] The postmistress from 1946 to 1966 was Mrs. Mary Fisher. She was succeeded by her daughter, Miss Vera Fisher, who retired in March 1977 and who has been claimed to be a descendant of the postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill.[4] The town also has a public telephone, which was removed in July 2009, but after much local outcry, was restored one month later.[5]

  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Parattah (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 August 2013. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Orchard, A.E. (1991) The Post Offices of Tasmania
  3. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Posties for six generations", Saturday Evening Mercury, 19 March 1977, p. 29
  5. ^ Vidot, A. "Parattah back on line". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 August 2013.