Deloraine

Deloraine is a town on the Meander River, in the central north of Tasmania, Australia. It is 50 km west of Launceston and 52 km south of Devonport along the Bass Highway. It is part of the Meander Valley Council, as of 2011, the town of Deloraine has a population of 2,745Deloraine, like most Tasmanian towns, has a temperate and wet climate.HistoryThe region was explored in 1821 by Captain Roland, who was searching for farm land. The land was granted to new settlers, and the town is now a major agricultural centre, with a large number of farms of all types in the area. Deloraine is named after a character from the poem The Lay of the Last Minstrel, written by Sir Walter Scott. Deloraine Post Office opened on 29 October 1836.The town won the State Tidy Towns award in 1992, 1993 and 1995, and the Australian Community of the Year award in 1997.EconomyWhile Deloraine is a predominantly rural farming town, it is also aimed at pleasing tourists, who visit because of its culture and location also serving as a base to explore areas such as Cradle Mountain, the Great Western Tiers, Mole Creek and the Central Highlands. Farms in the area produce poppies, herbs, onions and potatoes; as is typical produce for the Tasmanian climate. Deloraine is also home to the 41° South salmon and ginseng aqua farm.