Dunalley is a rural / residential locality in the local government areas (LGA) of Sorell (37%) and Tasman (63%) in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 31 kilometres (19 mi) south-east of the town of Sorell. The 2021 census recorded a population of 304 for the state suburb of Dunalley.[1]
It is a small fishing village on the east coast of Tasmania.
Dunalley is approximately 57 km (35 mi) east of Hobart on the Arthur Highway and 20 minutes from Sorell. It is located on the narrow isthmus which separates the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas from the rest of Tasmania.
The Denison canal, with a swing bridge for road traffic, has been cut between Dunalley Bay and Blackman Bay to allow boats easy access between the two bays. It was originally hand dug. The project started in 1901 and was completed in 1905.[3] In 1965 a new hydraulic swing bridge replaced the original bridge. It is common for Sydney–Hobart yacht racers returning to Sydney to use the canal as a convenient shortcut.[4]
Dunalley was badly affected by bushfires on 4 January 2013, with the town losing about 65 structures,[5][6] including the police station, school, bakery and local residences.[7][8]
Dunalley was first named East Bay Neck but was renamed Dunalley after Henry Prittie, 3rd Baron Dunalley (1807–1885). Dunalley came from Kilboy in the County of Tipperary, Ireland.[9]
A survey map of the region that became Dunalley (from the 1800s) is available online to the public.[10]
^Mather, Anne; Killick, Dave; Dawtrey, Zara (5 January 2013). "Thousand flee fire storms". The Hobart Mercury. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
^Tasmania Police Media & Communications (5 January 2013). "Fires update 0800" (Press release). Tasmanian Police (www.police.tas.gov.au). Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
^"Tasmanian Road Route Codes"(PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original(PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.