Derby is a small Australian town located in the northeast of Tasmania. The area had been surveyed in 1855, but was not settled until 1874, when George Renison Bell discovered tin in the area. The Krushka brothers discovered a large lode of tin, and set up a mine in the area, assuring the town's economic future. The town was originally known as Brother's Home until renamed Derby. Brother's HomePost Office opened on 1 August 1882 and was renamed Derby in 1885. Derby reached its peak in the late 19th century, when its population reached over 3,000, and the Brothers Mine was producing upwards of 120 tonnes of tin per month. On 4 April 1929, the Briseis Dam used by the mine burst after heavy rains and the Cascade Riverflooded the town, killing 14 people. The mine was closed, but re-opened five years later although it never reached the same level of output as it had in the last century and closed in 1948. Derby was served by a branch railway line which extended from Launceston to Herrick, 4 kilometres short of Moorina. The line through Derby station opened on 15 March 1919 and ran through the hills 2 km from the town. The railway closed in April 1992.
Mountain Biking in Derby
In 2015 a network of Mountain Bike trails opened in the wooded hills surrounding Derby. The trails are called and stretch out to the Blue Tier area. Mountain bike tourism has transformed the town and mountain bike and trail running events have been held, with many guided tours also available. In April 2017, Derby hosted a round of the . It was the first time the Enduro World Series has been held in Australia. In March 2019, Derby will host round two of the . In 2015 the Tasmanian government called for tourism developments in national parks and as a result approved a mountain bike tourism experience called the Blue Derby Pods Ride. Participants spend three days touring the Derby/Blue Tiers wilderness area and are accommodated in suspended 'pods'. Since the mountain bike trails opened, real estate prices in Derby have increased. The changes to the town have caused friction between tourists and some locals.
Festivals
Every October Derby is host to the Derby River Derby; an annual friendly river race featuring homemade or inflatable rafts. It had a 2008 attendance of approximately 4000 people and can attract up to 1000 competitors from around the state.
