Sorell, Tasmania


Sorell is a town in Tasmania, Australia, north-east of Hobart. It is located on the Tasman Highway at the junction with the Arthur Highway. Sorell is one of Tasmania's oldest towns, being first settled in 1808 as a small farming community and becoming an official township in 1821. At the, Sorell had a population of 1,546, and at the 2011 census, a population of 2,476. and at the 2016 census, a population of 2,907.

History

Sorell was named after William Sorell, the third Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. Historically, it was known as a major town on the route from Hobart to Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. It was the centre of an agricultural area and an important market town. It is now a dormitory town of Hobart, as well as the seat of the Sorell Council.
In 1872 the Sorell Causeway was opened, from the Cambridge direction, across Pitt Water and Orielton Lagoon to Sorell, stopping at Midway Point in the middle. This shortened the route considerably from the original road via Richmond.
Sorell Post Office opened on 1 June 1832.
There is also a mountain in the West Coast Range with the same name. Port Sorell is located on the mid north coast of Tasmania.

Heritage walks

There are a number of interesting heritage walks in Sorell and many old buildings from the colonial period have been preserved to the present day. These include:
The area also has a local historical society.

Gallery