{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Wynyard | state = tas | image = Table Cape by dusk.JPG | caption = Table Cape as seen at dusk | coordinates = {{coord|40|59|2|S|145|43|4|E|display=inline,title}} | region = North West Tasmania | pushpin_label_position = right | lga = Waratah-Wynyard | postcode = 7325 | est = | pop = 6,296 | pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}} | pop_footnotes=<ref name=ABS>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL60769|name=Wynyard|access-date=22 August 2022|quick=on}}</ref> | elevation= 12 | elevation_footnotes=<ref name=climate>{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_091107_All.shtml |title = Wynyard Airport Climate Statistics (1947-2024) |publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |access-date = September 9, 2024}} </ref> |maxtemp = 17.1 |maxtemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> |mintemp = 7.2 |mintemp_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> |rainfall = 987.8 |rainfall_footnotes = <ref name=climate/> | stategov = Braddon | fedgov = Braddon | dist1 = 317 | dir1 = NW | location1= Hobart | dist2 = 163 | dir2 = NW | location2= Launceston | dist3 = 66 | dir3 = NW | location3= Devonport | dist4 = 18 | dir4 = NW | location4= Burnie }}
'''Wynyard''' (/ˈwɪnjərd/) ''wi-nyuhd'') is a rural town located on the North West coast of Tasmania, Australia. Wynyard is situated {{convert|17|km|mi|0}} west of Burnie. As of the 2021 census, Wynyard has an estimated population of 6,296.{{r|ABS}} The town is a regional hub servicing the surrounding rural areas. The main council offices for the Waratah-Wynyard local government area are located in Wynyard.
The Burnie Wynyard Airport provides commercial flights to Melbourne and other districts.
==History== Three ex-convict Alexander brothers established a settlement, Alexandria, on the west, or Table Cape, side of the Inglis River in the 1850s. They bought large areas of farmland on Table Cape and built several small ships for produce and timber trading. Shortly afterwards, a town was laid on the east side of the river. Originally called Table Cape, it lagged well behind Alexandria which had a church and several shops including a blacksmith and general store.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stayalexandria.com.au/history.html |title=History of Alexandria |website=stayalexandria.com |publisher=Alexandria B&B |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref><ref name=utaswynhistory/> After the Inglis River was bridged in 1861, Alexandria began to fade and Wynyard, with better wharfing, became the district's centre of commerce.
Wynyard was probably renamed after Major-General Edward Buckley Wynyard in the early 1850s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66790867 |title=Glimpses of the Past | author=H. A. Nichols |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Burnie, Tasmania |date=6 October 1923 |access-date=13 April 2015 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69884460 |title=Table Cape Became Wynyard About 100 Years Ago | newspaper=The Advocate |location=Burnie, Tasmania |date=30 January 1954 |access-date=14 April 2015 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Table Cape Post Office opened around 1856 and was renamed ''Wynyard'' in 1882.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=Tas&country= | access-date = 16 June 2012}}</ref>
Wynyard handled more shipping than Burnie in the late nineteenth century and its population reached 500 by 1900. However, in the 20th century Burnie flourished and become the dominant regional and industrial hub for the region.<ref name=utaswynhistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/W/Wynyard.htm |title=Wynyard |last=Pink |first=Kerry |date=2006 |website=The companion to Tasmanian History |publisher=University of Tasmania |access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>
== Demographics == === Ancestry and immigration === As of the 2021 census, the most common ancestries were English 46.4%, Australian 45.1%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 8.9% and Australian Aboriginal 8.7%.{{r|ABS}}
=== Religion === Residents reported religious affiliation as: no religion 50%, Anglican 12.7%, Catholic 12.5%, not stated 7.2% and Uniting Church 5.1%.{{r|ABS}}
==Community==
===Radio=== Coast FM is a volunteer community radio station servicing the North-West coast of Tasmania, with the studio based in Wynyard.
===Sports=== The Wynyard Yacht Club was established in 1961 and is situated near the mouth of the Inglis River,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wynyard.org/sailing/index.php/about-us/ |title=Wynyard Yacht Club Inc: About |website=Wynyard Yacht Club Inc |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> the club has received national recognition for its inclusiveness programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-18/wynyard-yacht-club-named-best-in-australia/5823988 |title=Wynyard Yacht Club beats some of country's best to be named top yacht club in Australia |date=18 October 2014 |website=abc.net.au/news |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
The Wynyard Cricket Club was admitted to the NWTCA competition for the 1952/53 season. The club has produced some outstanding players, and many state representatives.
===Wonders of Wynyard=== The Wonders of Wynyard visitor information centre hosts a substantial classic vintage cars collection which was donated to the Waratah-Wynyard Council by the collector and restorer, Francis Ransley.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=25 February 2016 |title=The Original Rev Head |medium=YouTube |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2901jJ5fyk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/E2901jJ5fyk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=31 December 2016 |format=advertisement |location=Wynyard, Tasmania |publisher=Discover Tasmania}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
=== Coastal pathway === The development of a coastal pathway will connect Wynyard and Burnie to Latrobe as part of a state government and local government council initiative to upgrade infrastructure on the north-west coast of Tasmania.<ref>{{Cite web|last=carolynwp|date=2019-08-12|title=COASTAL PATHWAY|url=https://www.cradlecoast.com/coastal-pathway/|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Choose Cradle Coast|language=en-AU}}</ref>
=== Arts ===
A community art centre, Artscape,<ref>{{cite web | title=ARTSCAPE | website=ARTSCAPE | url=http://www.artscapewynyard.com/ | access-date=2022-11-23}}</ref> has been operated by a volunteer committee since 2007. The centre hosts community groups, exhibitions and provides a space in which the community can foster their own artistic events.
== Infrastructure ==
===Education=== There are currently two government funded public schools in Wynyard, Table Cape Primary School and Wynyard High School. There is also a Catholic primary school, St Brigid's, adjacent to the Catholic church of the same name.
Previously, Wynyard Primary School (located at Gibbons Street) and Inglis Primary School (located at Bowick Street) existed separately. Both were renamed to Table Cape Primary School in 1998. The two school campuses were then merged in 2009, with the closing of the Bowick Street campus.<ref>{{Citation | title=Table Cape Primary School TA2116 [Records] | date=1998 | publisher=LINC Tasmania | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/201855313 | access-date=1 January 2017 }}</ref>
==Geographical features==
===Freestone Cove=== Freestone Cove is a small sheltered bay on the northern fringes of Wynyard, towards Table Cape.
====Fossil Bluff==== thumb|left|Fossil Bluff sandstone cliffs Fossil bluff is a small protrusion of sandstone cliffs rising about {{convert|30|m}} from the coastline at Freestone Cove. In the 19th century, it was the discovery site of Australia's oldest fossil marsupial, ''Wynyardia bassiana'', an extinct possum-like animal from the early Miocene (about 25 million years ago). Also recovered was an extinct genus of whale, ''Prosqualodon''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/F/Fossils.htm |title=Fossils |last=Quilty |first=Patrick |website=The companion to Tasmanian history |publisher=University of Tasmania |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitwaratahwynyard.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/coastal-nature/33-fossil-bluff |title=Fossil Bluff |website=visitwaratahwynyard.com.au |publisher=Waratah-Wynyard Council |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>
====Aboriginal fish traps==== thumb|right|Tidal fish traps at Freestone Cove It is believed the Aboriginal Tommeginer clan built tidal fish traps with rocks at Freestone Cove, the rocks are still evident today and are protected under the ''Aboriginal Relics Act''.<ref name=ianthesis>{{cite thesis |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |date=October 2002 |title=Aboriginal Society in North West Tasmania: Dispossession and Genocide |type=Ph.D |chapter=1 |publisher=University of Tasmania |chapter-url=http://eprints.utas.edu.au/220/2/02Whole.pdf |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref> The Tommeginer tribe lived in the region along the coastline around Wynyard and Table Cape until soon after the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century.<ref>The Aboriginal Tribes of North West Tasmania: A History, by Ian McFarlane, 2008, published by Riawunna, Fullers Bookshop and UTas.</ref>
A considerable number of tidal fish traps have been found in the north and north-west of the state. This phenomenon is attributed to the mean tidal range of two metres along this stretch of coastline, which is ideal for this type of construction. Whilst some of these traps were certainly built by Europeans, there is good reason to believe others were of Aboriginal construction, such as at Freestone Cove. Three other traps located at nearby Rocky Cape, Sisters Beach and Boat Harbour do not have established European origins, furthermore, all are located within the territory which was occupied by the Tommeginer tribe.<ref name=ianthesis/>
Tidal fish traps must be located close to settlements or camps so that they can be monitored. Because as the tide ebbs, any fish caught in the shallows fall easy prey to scavenging seabirds. The Freestone Cove traps are located a considerable distance from the nearest early European settlement of Alexandria, but were close to known Aboriginal campsites and several middens have been located along the shoreline nearby.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Murray |last2=McFarlane |first2=Ian |date=2015 |title=Van Diemen's Land An Aboriginal History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2jd5CAAAQBAJ&q=table+cape&pg=PT402 |location=Tasmania |publisher=NewSouth Publishing |isbn=9781742234212 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>
===Inglis River=== Wynyard is located around the mouth of the Inglis River, which extends approximately 61 kilometres to the Campbell Ranges near Takone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Inglis_AquaticEcol.pdf |title=Aquatic Ecology of Rivers in the Inglis-Flowerdale Catchment |last1=Warfe |first1=Danielle |date=December 2003 |website=dpipwe.tas.gov.au |publisher=Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>
===Table Cape=== Table Cape is a volcanic plug located about {{convert|4|km}} north of Wynyard, the northern and eastern faces of the geological feature rise steeply from Bass Strait to a height of approximately 170 metres (560 ft) above sea level.<ref>{{cite report |author=R. D. Gee|date=1971 |title=Geological Survey Explanatory Report: Table Cape |url=http://www.mrt.tas.gov.au/mrtdoc/dominfo/download/ER8016S0/ER8016S.pdf |publisher=Tasmania Department of Mines |page=36 |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref> The area is renowned for the annual flowering of tulips during spring and accompanying tulip festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3250381/tulip-festival-a-bloomin-wonder-for-community/ |title=Tulip festival a bloomin' wonder for community |last1=Sayer|first1=Luke |date=31 July 2015 |website=The Advocate |publisher=Fairfax Regional Media |access-date=13 August 2016}}</ref> Situated on the edge of Table Cape is the heritage-listed Table Cape Lighthouse, which remains in operation today. The lighthouse stands about {{convert|25|m}} tall and has a maximum range of {{convert|16|nmi|km mi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seasidelights.com.au/au/tas/tablecape.asp?fState=Tas |title=SeaSide Lights: Table Cape |last1=Searle |first1=Garry |website=seasidelights.com.au |publisher=Garry Searle |access-date=31 December 2016 |archive-date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823011317/http://www.seasidelights.com.au/au/tas/tablecape.asp?fState=Tas |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Table Cape Lighthouse – Wynyard Visitor Information Centre booket |publisher=Waratah-Wynyard Council, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Australian federal government |pages=2–11|date=2010 }}</ref>
== Climate == Wynyard has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), with very mild, relatively dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Average maxima vary from {{convert|21.8|C}} in January and February to {{convert|12.8|C}} in July while average minima fluctuate between {{convert|11.6|C}} in February and {{convert|3.6|C}} in July.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=91107 |title = Wynyard Airport Climate (1947-2024) |website = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = September 9, 2024}}</ref> Mean average annual precipitation is moderate: {{convert|987.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}, but is frequent: spread between 179.5 precipitation days. The town is not very sunny, with 147.6 cloudy days and only 45.9 clear days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|35.1|C}} on 31 January 2009 to {{convert|-4.0|C}} on 6 July 2024. Sunshine data was sourced from Elliott, a rural locality {{convert|10.2|km|mi}} southeast of Wynyard.
{{Weather box |location = Wynyard (41º00'00"S, 145º43'48"E, 12 m AMSL) (1947-2024 normals & extremes, sun 1965-1993) |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 35.1 |Feb record high C = 32.6 |Mar record high C = 31.0 |Apr record high C = 27.2 |May record high C = 21.0 |Jun record high C = 19.7 |Jul record high C = 17.9 |Aug record high C = 19.3 |Sep record high C = 21.4 |Oct record high C = 25.2 |Nov record high C = 30.5 |Dec record high C = 31.1 |Jan high C = 21.8 |Feb high C = 21.8 |Mar high C = 20.3 |Apr high C = 17.7 |May high C = 15.2 |Jun high C = 13.5 |Jul high C = 12.8 |Aug high C = 13.4 |Sep high C = 14.5 |Oct high C = 16.3 |Nov high C = 18.1 |Dec high C = 19.9 |Jan low C = 11.4 |Feb low C = 11.6 |Mar low C = 9.8 |Apr low C = 7.2 |May low C = 5.3 |Jun low C = 4.1 |Jul low C = 3.6 |Aug low C = 4.1 |Sep low C = 5.0 |Oct low C = 6.3 |Nov low C = 8.3 |Dec low C = 9.8 |Jan record low C = 0.6 |Feb record low C = 1.1 |Mar record low C = -0.2 |Apr record low C = -2.3 |May record low C = -2.7 |Jun record low C = -3.6 |Jul record low C = -4.0 |Aug record low C = -3.1 |Sep record low C = -2.5 |Oct record low C = -1.6 |Nov record low C = -0.6 |Dec record low C = 0.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 44.2 |Feb precipitation mm = 46.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 49.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 69.6 |May precipitation mm = 94.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 107.7 |Jul precipitation mm = 129.5 |Aug precipitation mm = 117.2 |Sep precipitation mm = 93.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 94.2 |Nov precipitation mm = 73.1 |Dec precipitation mm = 64.0 |year precipitation mm = 987.8 |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation days = 8.9 |Feb precipitation days = 8.7 |Mar precipitation days = 11.0 |Apr precipitation days = 13.3 |May precipitation days = 17.2 |Jun precipitation days = 18.2 |Jul precipitation days = 20.8 |Aug precipitation days = 20.9 |Sep precipitation days = 18.1 |Oct precipitation days = 16.7 |Nov precipitation days = 13.6 |Dec precipitation days = 12.1 |Jan afthumidity = 59 |Feb afthumidity = 60 |Mar afthumidity = 61 |Apr afthumidity = 66 |May afthumidity = 70 |Jun afthumidity = 73 |Jul afthumidity = 73 |Aug afthumidity = 70 |Sep afthumidity = 68 |Oct afthumidity = 64 |Nov afthumidity = 63 |Dec afthumidity = 61 |Jan dew point C = 10.8 |Feb dew point C = 11.5 |Mar dew point C = 10.3 |Apr dew point C = 9.2 |May dew point C = 8.1 |Jun dew point C = 7.1 |Jul dew point C = 6.2 |Aug dew point C = 6.2 |Sep dew point C = 6.4 |Oct dew point C = 7.0 |Nov dew point C = 8.3 |Dec dew point C = 9.7 |Jan sun = 254.2 |Feb sun = 217.5 |Mar sun = 192.2 |Apr sun = 159.0 |May sun = 127.1 |Jun sun = 120.0 |Jul sun = 127.1 |Aug sun = 139.5 |Sep sun = 159.0 |Oct sun = 210.8 |Nov sun = 219.0 |Dec sun = 232.5 |Jan percentsun = 57 |Feb percentsun = 56 |Mar percentsun = 50 |Apr percentsun = 48 |May percentsun = 42 |Jun percentsun = 43 |Jul percentsun = 43 |Aug percentsun = 43 |Sep percentsun = 45 |Oct percentsun = 52 |Nov percentsun = 51 |Dec percentsun = 50 |source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology (1947-2024 normals & extremes, sun 1965-1993)<ref name=climate/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_091030_All.shtml |title = Elliott Research Station Climate Statistics (1914-2010) |publisher = Bureau of Meteorology |access-date = September 9, 2024}} </ref> }}
==Notable residents==
* F. M. Alexander the creator of the Alexander technique was born on the northern bank of the Inglis River at a settlement called Alexandria, situated about three km upstream from the river mouth. He later moved to Waratah, Melbourne, London and New York to pursue acting and teaching. * Carla Boyd is a retired Australian women's basketball player who was born in Wynyard. Boyd Competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, and the 1998 World Championship, winning medals at all three events (1 silver and 2 bronze).
==Gallery== {{Gallery |align=center |File:Goldie-St-Wynyard-20070423-008.jpg|Goldie Street |File:Wharf-Wynyard-20070423-017.jpg|Wharf on the Inglis River at low tide |File:East-Wynyard-Beach-20070423-021.jpg|East Wynyard Beach }}
==References== {{commons category|Wynyard, Tasmania}} {{reflist}}
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Category:Wynyard, Tasmania Category:Localities of Waratah–Wynyard Council Category:Towns in Tasmania