# Mount Zeehan

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Mountain in Tasmania, Australia

Mount Zeehan Mt Zeehan and "The Pyramids" c. 2020 Highest point Elevation 701 m (2,300 ft)[1] Prominence 441 m (1,447 ft)[1] Isolation 8.5 km (5.3 mi)[1] Coordinates 41°55′36.12″S 145°19′22.44″E / 41.9267000°S 145.3229000°E / -41.9267000; 145.3229000 Naming Native name Weiawenena Peerapper (Northwestern Tasmanian) Geography Mount Zeehan Location in Tasmania Location West Coast of Tasmania, Australia Parent range Heemskirk Range Geology Rock age Jurassic Mountain type Dolerite

**Mount Zeehan** ([/maʊntˈziːən/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*MOWNT-ZEE-ən*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)) ([Peerapper](/source/Peerapper_language)/[palawa kani](/source/Palawa_kani): *Weiawenena*)[2] is a [mountain](/source/Mountain) located in the [Heemskirk Range](/source/Heemskirk_Range) on the [West Coast](/source/West_Coast_Tasmania) of [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), [Australia](/source/Australia). It has an elevation of 701 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level.[3] The closest town is [Zeehan](/source/Zeehan%2C_Tasmania), about 4.93 kilometres (3 mi) to the east.[4]

## Geography

Mount Zeehan is part of the Heemskirk Range, which lies west of the [West Coast Range](/source/West_Coast_Range%2C_Tasmania). The area is characterised by rugged terrain and dense temperate rainforest, typical of Tasmania's west coast.[5][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*]

## Geology

Mount Zeehan is primarily composed of [Jurassic](/source/Jurassic) [dolerite](/source/Dolerite), a type of igneous rock widespread across Tasmania.[6] The dolerite formations resulted from extensive volcanic activity during the breakup of the supercontinent [Gondwana](/source/Gondwana) around 180 million years ago.[7] The region is also known for significant deposits of [silver](/source/Silver) and [lead](/source/Lead) ores, contributing to a mining boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[8]

## History

The area surrounding Mount Zeehan has been traditionally inhabited by the Peerapper people for thousands of years. The mountain holds cultural significance, featuring in local Dreamtime stories and serving as a source of bush foods and materials.[9]

### European exploration and naming

On 24 November 1642, [Dutch](/source/Dutch_people) explorer [Abel Tasman](/source/Abel_Tasman) became the first European to sight and document the Heemskirk and West Coast Ranges. Tasman sailed his ships close to the coastal area, which today encompasses the [Southwest Conservation Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southwest_Conservation_Area&action=edit&redlink=1), but was unable to land due to poor weather.[10] In their circumnavigation of Tasmania between 1798 and 1799, [George Bass](/source/George_Bass) and [Matthew Flinders](/source/Matthew_Flinders) named the Heemskirk Range mountains [Mount Heemskirk](/source/Mount_Heemskirk) and Mount Zeehan after Tasman's ships, the *[Heemskerck](/source/Heemskerck_(1638_ship))* and the [fluyt](/source/Fluyt) *Zeehaen* ("Sea Hen") in honor of Tasman's voyage.[11]

Although Dutch in origin, Bass and Flinders' [Anglicised](/source/Anglicised) naming of Mount Heemskirk and Mount Zeehan created some of the oldest British place names in Tasmania.[note 1]

### Mining

Silver-lead deposits were discovered at Mount Zeehan by [Frank Long](/source/Frank_Long) in 1882.[8] This led to a mining boom, with Zeehan rapidly developing into one of Tasmania's largest mining towns by the early 1900s.[13] The [Zeehan mineral field](/source/Zeehan_mineral_field) contains more than 100 legacy mine sites, many affected by [acid mine drainage](/source/Acid_mine_drainage), costing an estimated A$100,000 per hectare to remediate.[14]

Spray Tunnel c. 2016

### Township of Zeehan

Main article: [Zeehan, Tasmania](/source/Zeehan%2C_Tasmania)

Mount Zeehan Post Office opened on 1 August 1888. The township was officially named Zeehan in 1890.[15] Zeehan became known as the "Silver City" due to the abundance of silver mined in the area.[16]

## Tourism

Constructed as part of silver-mining operations in 1904, a 100-metre-long railway tunnel leading to the former Spray Silver Mine has become a popular walking destination for tourists.[17] The Spray Tunnel was closed in January 2022 after cracks were discovered in the ceiling but has since been reopened after safety assessments and repairs.[18]

A three-hour return walk to the summit of Mount Zeehan is accessible via a [four-wheel drive](/source/Four-wheel_drive) track.[19] The track offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, including the town of Zeehan and nearby ranges. The area attracts hikers and history enthusiasts interested in the region's natural beauty and mining heritage.[20]

## Access

Mount Zeehan is accessible primarily by road, with the closest town being [Zeehan](/source/Zeehan%2C_Tasmania), approximately 4.93 kilometres (3.06 mi) away.[4] The main route to Zeehan is via the [Murchison Highway](/source/Murchison_Highway) (A10), which connects Zeehan to other major towns on Tasmania's West Coast, including [Rosebery](/source/Rosebery%2C_Tasmania) to the north and [Queenstown](/source/Queenstown%2C_Tasmania) to the south. The road is sealed, making it accessible by most vehicles.

A number of unsealed tracks provide access closer to the mountain itself, including four-wheel drive tracks used by hikers to reach the summit. These tracks are not suitable for standard vehicles and are recommended for experienced off-road drivers or hikers.[19]

Historically, the region was serviced by rail during the mining boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The [North East Dundas Tramway](/source/North_East_Dundas_Tramway) operated between Mount Zeehan and Deep Lead (now [Williamsford](/source/Williamsford%2C_Tasmania)), providing critical infrastructure for the transport of silver-lead ore. Opening in 1896 and closing in 1932, it was part of the [Tasmanian Government Railways](/source/Tasmanian_Government_Railways) network. The world's first [Garratt locomotives](/source/Garratt_locomotive), the [K class](/source/Tasmanian_Government_Railways_K_class), were used on the line.[21]

- [Australia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Australia)
- [Mountains portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mountains)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Names_13-0)** Only a few [Dutch place names in Tasmania](/source/List_of_place_names_of_Dutch_origin_in_Australia#Tasmania) originate from Tasman's 1642 voyage. Although some place names originate from [Bruni d'Entrecasteaux's](/source/Bruni_d'Entrecasteaux) French expedition in 1792,[12] most were assigned after the settlement of [Hobart Town](/source/Hobart%2C_Tasmania) in 1803.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-peakbagger_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-peakbagger_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-peakbagger_1-2) ["Mount Zeehan, Tasmania"](http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=77800). *Peakbagger.com*. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Milligan_2-0)** Milligan, Joseph (1858). ["On the dialects and languages of the Aboriginal Tribes of Tasmania, and on their manners and customs"](https://eprints.utas.edu.au/19369/1/1-1859-Dialects-Aboriginal-Tribes-Tasmania.pdf) (PDF). *Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania*: 270.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bonzle1_3-0)** ["Frequently asked questions about Mount Heemskirk in Tasmania - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia"](http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=36449&d=faq&cmd=sp&c=1&x=145.17221&y=-41.85185&w=40000&mpsec=0).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bonzle2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bonzle2_4-1) ["Frequently asked questions about Mount Zeehan in Tasmania - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia"](http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&cmd=sp&p=37827&st=&s=Mount%20Zeehan).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Sharples, C. (2016). *West Coast Aborigines and the Environment: Their Role in Shaping the Temperate Landscape*. University of Tasmania. p. 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-646-95851-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-646-95851-7). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#bad_isbn))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tasmanian Geological Survey"](https://www.mrt.tas.gov.au/geology). Mineral Resources Tasmania. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Jurassic Dolerite in Tasmania"](https://www.utas.edu.au/geology/jurassic-dolerite). University of Tasmania. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Orebody_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Orebody_8-1) Dickens, Greg. ["Zeehan's Silver-Lead Orebody"](https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/Z/Zeehan%20mine.htm). [University of Tasmania](/source/University_of_Tasmania). Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ryan, Lyndall (2012). *The Aboriginal Tasmanians*. Allen & Unwin. p. 65. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-74331-293-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-74331-293-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Reynolds, Henry (2012). *The Black War: Fear, Sex and Resistance in Tasmania*. Penguin Books. p. 28. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-74253-758-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-74253-758-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ships_11-0)** F. Adama van Scheltema & Anton Mensing, 1898. ["Tasman's ships Zeehaen and Heemskerck"](https://digital.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/nodes/view/2617). [State Library of South Australia](/source/State_Library_of_South_Australia). Retrieved 2 June 2022.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-French_12-0)** ["French came, sowed and left Tasmania in 1792"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/french-came-sowed-and-left-tasmania-in-1792-20030220-gdgav4.html). [Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation). 20 February 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Whitham, Charles (2003). *Western Tasmania: A Land of Riches and Beauty*. Self-published. p. 112. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9592098-3-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9592098-3-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AMD_15-0)** Parbhakar-Fox, Anita (29 June 2016). ["Treasure from trash: how mining waste can be mined a second time"](https://theconversation.com/treasure-from-trash-how-mining-waste-can-be-mined-a-second-time-59667). [The Conversation](/source/The_Conversation_(website)). Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Post_Office_16-0)** Premier Postal History. ["Post Office List"](https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=Tas&country=). Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Zeehan - The Silver City"](https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/articles/zeehan). Discover Tasmania. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Spray Tunnel History"](https://www.westcoasttasmania.com.au/spray-tunnel/). West Coast Tasmania Tourism. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Woods_19-0)** Woods, Rodney (17 January 2022). ["Zeehan's Spray Tunnel closed after cracks found in roof"](https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7583628/tourist-attraction-closed-for-safety-reasons/). [The Advocate](/source/The_Advocate_(Tasmania)). Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NatureLovers_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NatureLovers_20-1) ["Mt Zeehan"](https://www.natureloverswalks.com/tag/mt-zeehan/). Nature Lover Walks. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Mount Zeehan Walk"](https://www.greatwalkstasmania.com.au/walks/mt-zeehan-walk). Great Walks Tasmania. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Railways in Tasmania"](https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/R/Railways.htm). University of Tasmania. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

v t e Mountains in Tasmania, Australia Arthur Range Eastern Federation (1,224 m or 4,016 ft) Ben Lomond Legges Tor (1,572 m or 5,157 ft) Giblin Peak (1,569 m or 5,148 ft) Markham Heights (1,542 m or 5,059 ft) Hamilton Crags (1,540 m or 5,052 ft) Stacks Bluff (1,527 m or 5,010 ft) Misery Bluff (1,520 m or 4,987 ft) Ossian’s Throne (1,498 m or 4,915 ft) Coalmine Crag (1,498 m or 4,915 ft) Magnet Crag (1,464 m or 4,803 ft) Victoria (1,213 m or 3,980 ft) Du Cane Range unnamed peak (1,520 m or 4,987 ft) Geryon North (1,516 m or 4,974 ft) Massif (1,514 m or 4,967 ft) Geryon South (1,509 m or 4,951 ft) Gould (1,485 m or 4,872 ft) Castle Crag (1,482 m or 4,862 ft) Thetis (1,482 m or 4,862 ft) The Acropolis (1,481 m or 4,859 ft) Achilles (1,363 m or 4,472 ft) Eldon Range Eldon Peak (1,440 m or 4,724 ft) Eldon Bluff Great Western Tiers Ironstone (1,443 m or 4,734 ft) Meehan Range Direction (418 m or 1,371 ft) Flagstaff Hill (435 m or 1,427 ft) Gunners Quoin (423 m or 1,388 ft) Pelion Range Ossa (1,614 m or 5,295 ft)1 Pelion West (1,560 m or 5,118 ft) Pelion East (1,461 m or 4,793 ft) Wellington Range Kriwalayti / Nelson (340 m or 1,115 ft) Kunanyi / Wellington (1,269 m or 4,163 ft) West Coast Range Murchison (1,275 m or 4,183 ft) Jukes (1,168 m or 3,832 ft) Sedgwick (1,147 m or 3,763 ft) Owen (1,146 m or 3,760 ft) Sorell (1,144 m or 3,753 ft) Read (1,124 m or 3,688 ft) Proprietary Peak (1,103 m or 3,619 ft) Hamilton (1,103 m or 3,619 ft) Darwin (1,031 m or 3,383 ft) Heemskirk Agnew (848 m or 2,782 ft) Dundas (1,143 m or 3,750 ft) Heemskirk (751 m or 2,464 ft) Zeehan (701 m or 2,300 ft) Sticht unnamed peak (1,080 m or 3,543 ft) Tyndall Geikie (1,191 m or 3,907 ft) Tyndall (1,179 m or 3,868 ft) Not in a defined range Mount Olympus (1,472 m or 4,829 ft) Frenchmans Cap (1,446 m or 4,744 ft) Barrow (1,406 m or 4,613 ft) 1 Highest summit elevation in Tasmania Category

v t e Western region of Tasmania, Australia Cities and other settlements Queenstown Crotty Darwin Dundas Gormanston Guildford Linda Pillinger Regatta Point Rosebery Strahan Tullah Waratah Williamsford Zeehan Governance Braddon (federal) Braddon (state) Franklin Land District Montgomery Land District Montagu Land District West Coast Council Lyell Murchison Zeehan Mountains West Coast Range Black Darwin Dundas Heemskirk Huxley Jukes Lyell Murchison Owen Read Read Volcanics Sedgwick Sorell Strahan Zeehan Tyndall Geikie Tyndall Eldon Eldon Peak Engineer unnamed peak Raglan unnamed peak Sticht unnamed peak National parks Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Rivers Anne Anthony Franklin Gordon Henty King Lea Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Queen Sophia Lakes Beatrice Burbury Dora Gordon Mackintosh Murchison Pieman Rosebery Westwood Dams Anthony Crotty Darwin Gordon Henty Mackintosh Tullabardine Lake Margaret Murchison Reece Power stations Anthony Power Development Bastyan Gordon John Butters Lake Margaret Mackintosh Reece Tribute Transport Anthony Road Hercules Haulage Lyell Highway Murchison Highway Queenstown Airport Strahan Airport Railways Emu Bay Macquarie Heads breakwater Melba Mount Dundas-Zeehan North East Dundas North Mount Lyell Wee Georgie Wood West Coast Wilderness Zeehan-Strahan Railway stations and former railway stations Queenstown Zeehan Landmarks Natural Birchs Inlet Cape Sorell Darwin Crater Granville Harbour Hells Gates Iron Blow Kelly Basin Linda Valley Macquarie Harbour Montezuma Falls Nelson Falls Ocean Beach Trial Harbour Man-made Cape Sorell Lighthouse Gaiety Theatre Galley Museum Paragon Theatre Queenstown Oval People of note Convicts on the West Coast Crotty Davey Gould Joyce Long Moore Pearce Piguenit Piners Sticht Whitham Mining Comstock Mine Copper Mines Henty Gold Mine Mount Jukes Mine sites Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company Mount Lyell Remediation and Research and Demonstration Program North Mount Lyell North Mount Lyell Disaster (1912) Renison Bell Stichtite West Coast Tasmania Mines Books and newspapers For the Term of His Natural Life Gould's Book of Fish The Peaks of Lyell West Coast Miner Zeehan & Dundas Herald Other Darwin glass The Unconformity Round Earth Theatre Company Tasmanian West bioregion Western Tasmanian Football Association Western Tasmanian languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mount Zeehan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Zeehan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Zeehan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.