Denison Canal

{{Short description|Canal in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English |date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates |date=May 2026}} {{Infobox canal | name = Denison Canal | image = Denison Canal November 2010.JPG | image_size = 280 | image_caption = The Denison Canal at Dunalley. | former_names = | modern_name = | original_owner = | engineer = | other_engineer = | date_act = | date_began = | date_use =  | date_completed = 1905 | date_extended = | date_closed = | date_restored = | len_m = | original_boat_length_m = | len_note = | beam_m = | original_beam_m = | beam_note = | start_point = | original_start = | start_note = | end_point = | original_end = | end_note = | branch = | branch_of = | connects_to = | locks = Nil | original_num_locks = | lock_note = | length_km = 0.895 | length_note = | elev_m = | elev_note = | status = Open | navigation_authority = }}

The '''Denison Canal''' is a human-made [[canal]] located at [[Dunalley, Tasmania|Dunalley]] in southern [[Tasmania]], Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Canals|url=https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/C/Canals.htm|access-date=2022-01-30|website=www.utas.edu.au}}</ref> The canal opened for use in 1905 and draws its name from former [[Governors of Tasmania|Governor]] [[William Denison]]. The canal was built to shorten the fishing and trade routes between the east coast and [[Hobart]].

==History==

Proposals to dig a canal through the [[East Bay Neck]] were first made in 1820.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} However, no serious consideration was given to a canal until William Denison became governor in 1847. Denison had previously worked on the [[Rideau Canal]] in Canada,{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} and commissioned a report into the possibility of building a canal at East Bay Neck in 1854. However, no work took place on the project.<ref name=Clements_Companion />

Construction of the canal was revived early in the 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000287/19000924/015/0003 |title= |newspaper= |location= |page= |issue= |date= |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The Tasmanian Government sought tenders for the project in 1901, and the firm [[Henrikson and Knutson]] were selected after lodging the lowest price (£17,999). The canal was designed by [[Napier Bell]]. While the contract specified that the canal was to be completed by 29 May 1904, the start of work on the project was delayed by negotiations over whether Henrikson and Knutson or the Tasmanian Government would retain ownership of the equipment needed to build the canal once it was complete.<ref name="Opening Ceremony" /> The canal was finally opened by Governor [[Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland|Sir Gerald Strickland]] on 13 October 1905.<ref name="Opening Ceremony" /> At this time it was reported to be the second-longest canal in Australia.<ref name="Opening Ceremony">{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12322228 |title=EAST BAY NECK CANAL. THE OPENING CEREMONY. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=14 October 1905 |accessdate=10 January 2013 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Denison Canal was bridged by a hand-operated swing bridge until 1965, when a larger and electrically operated bridge was installed.<ref name=Clements_Companion>{{cite web|last=Clements|first=Graham|title=Canals|url=http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/C/Canals.htm|work=The Companion to Tasmanian History|publisher=Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies|accessdate=10 January 2013}}</ref>

==Characteristics==

The Denison Canal is {{convert|895|m|ft}} long, or {{convert|2.42|km|mi}} long if its dredged approaches are included. It is {{convert|34|m|ft}} wide at ground level, dropping to {{convert|7|m|ft}} at low tide. Water depth varies from {{convert|3.9|m|ft}} at high tide to {{convert|2.6|m|ft}} at low tide. While the canal was once able to be used by small trading vessels, only small fishing and recreation boats can now pass through the shifting sand bars in [[Blackman Bay]] on the eastern approaches to the canal.<ref name=Clements_Companion />

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Engineering}}}} *[[Canals in Australia]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite book|last=Clarke|first=Gwen|title=History of the Denison Canal|year=2008|publisher=Dunalley Bridge Association|location=Dunalley, Tasmania}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130502073940/http://auscanal.org.au/AustralianCanals.php Denison canal at The Australian Canal Society]

[[Category:Canals in Australia]] [[Category:Water transport in Australia]] [[Category:Transport buildings and structures in Tasmania]] [[Category:East Coast Tasmania]] [[Category:Canals opened in 1905]] [[Category:Forestier Peninsula]] [[Category:1905 establishments in Australia]]