{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = town | name = Ringarooma | state = tas | lga = [[Dorset Council (Australia)|Dorset Council]] | postcode = 7263 | pop = 395 | pop_year = 2021 | pop_footnotes = <ref name="abs2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL60565|name=Ringarooma (State Suburb)|accessdate=20 June 2022|quick=on}}</ref> | est = 1882 | elevation = 283 | coordinates = {{coord|41|14|S|147|40|E|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_label_position = right | image = Ringaroomahotel.jpg | caption = The Ringarooma Hotel, a central landmark in the town | stategov = [[Division of Bass (state)|Bass]] | fedgov = [[Division of Bass|Bass]] | dist1 = 89 | dir1 = NE | location1 = [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]] | dist2 = 26 | dir2 = SW | location2 = [[Derby, Tasmania|Derby]] | dist3 = 61 | dir3 = E | location3 = [[St Helens, Tasmania|St Helens]] }}
'''Ringarooma''' is a town and locality in the North East region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. It is situated in the fertile valley of the [[Ringarooma River]], on the edge of the [[Blue Tier]] mountain range. The town was founded as a private township in 1882 by the pioneering [[Krushka brothers]], whose enterprise was funded by the region's tin mining boom. At the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]], the locality of Ringarooma had a population of 395.<ref name="abs2021"/> The town is located {{cvt|89|km}} north-east of [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]].
The local economy is predominantly based on [[dairy farming]] and [[logging]], with a growing tourism sector driven by the area's natural attractions. The locality is primarily within the [[Dorset Council (Australia)|Dorset Council]] local government area, with a small eastern portion (approximately 2.5%) belonging to the [[Break O'Day Council]].
== History ==
=== Exploration and early settlement === The area's rich soil was first identified by Europeans during explorations in the 1850s. Surveyor James Scott is credited with exploring the district, which he named the "Ringarooma country".<ref name="Advertiser1923">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152533579 |title=The fertile District of Ringarooma |newspaper=[[North-eastern Advertiser]] |volume=XIV |issue=99 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=18 December 1923 |accessdate=22 July 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1856, James Reid Scott, nephew of the explorer, blazed a track to Ringarooma, which was soon followed by a government grant of £100 in 1859 to construct a road from Launceston, cut through dense forest.<ref name="SMH2008">{{cite web | title=Culture and History | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2008-11-20 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/ringarooma-culture-and-history-20081121-6d47.html | access-date=2025-07-21}}</ref><ref name="Loone1928">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51458062 |title=Tasmania's North-East |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |volume=LXXXVI |issue=12 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=14 January 1928 |accessdate=22 July 2025 |page=5 (DAILY) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Pioneer Thomas Hogarth claimed to have felled the first tree for clearing purposes in 1860. The first permanent settlers arrived in the 1860s, establishing farms to cultivate the rich soil.<ref name="Loone1928"/> In 1864, Robert Boyd commenced clearing operations at the Legerwood estate for James Scott, while James Bulman began clearing the Branxholm estate for J. R. Scott. The district's isolation meant early settlers faced significant hardship; transport of rations from [[Bridport, Tasmania|Bridport]] cost £13 per ton, and the first ploughs were laboriously brought to the area in 1866.<ref name="Advertiser1923"/>
=== The tin boom and founding of Krushka Town === {{main|Krushka brothers}} The discovery of rich [[tin]] deposits at nearby [[Derby, Tasmania|Derby]] in the 1870s triggered a mining boom that transformed the region. Ringarooma flourished as a vital agricultural district, supplying the miners with food and provisions. Central to this development were the [[Krushka brothers]], a family of [[Prussia]]n immigrants who discovered the enormously wealthy Brothers' Home tin mine at Derby in 1875.<ref name="KingsOfTin">{{cite web | last=Rish | first=Gabrielle | title=Kings of Tin | website=Tasmanian Times | date=2012-02-20 | url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2012/02/kings-of-tin/ | access-date=2025-07-22}}</ref> Using their new fortune, they invested heavily in the Ringarooma district, buying and clearing large tracts of land for farming.<ref name="Loone1928"/>
In 1882, one of the brothers, Christopher Krushka, led an initiative to establish a private township to serve the growing community.<ref name="PlaceNames">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149314202 |title=Place Names of the North East |newspaper=North-eastern Advertiser |volume=XLI |issue=6 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=24 January 1950 |accessdate=22 July 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He subdivided his farm property and, on 4 March 1882, auctioned 50 town allotments. The settlement was initially known as Krushka, or Krushka's Town.<ref name="Beswick">{{cite book|title=As The River Flows, Mount Victoria to Boobyalla|last=Beswick|first=Dorothy|year=1988|publisher=Ringarooma Council|isbn=0-7316-1966-8}}</ref><ref name="PlaceNames"/> Reflecting the family's influence, the town plan featured streets named for two of the other brothers, Frederick and Charles.<ref name="PlaceNames"/>
In November 1888, the town was officially renamed Ringarooma. This name was transferred from a coastal port which was then renamed [[Boobyalla]].<ref name="Beswick"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://stors.tas.gov.au/NS2809 |title=NS2809 – The E R Pretyman Index: NS2809-1–16(Ria – San) |website=stors.tas.gov.au |publisher=Libraries Tasmania|page=20 |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref> The name "Ringarooma" is believed to be derived from a local [[Aboriginal Tasmanians|palawa kante]] word, popularly translated as "happy hunting ground" or "running water".<ref name=exammarch09>{{cite news |date=11 March 2009 |title=Ringarooma: A'happy hunting ground' |author=Alison Andrews |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/495543/ringarooma-ahappy-hunting-ground/ |newspaper=The Examiner |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref>
Ringarooma Post Office opened on 1 October 1874 and was known as ''Ringarooma (Krushkas)'' between 1884 and 1885.<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= | accessdate = 16 June 2012}}</ref>
== Geography == Ringarooma is situated in what was described in the 1920s as "a big basin surrounded by the everlasting hills".<ref name="Loone1928"/> The area is known for its deep, fertile, dark-red basaltic soils (or "chocolate soil"), which support high-quality pastures and crops. The town lies just east of the [[Ringarooma River]]. This river, along with the nearby Dorset River, flows through the district before emptying into [[Bass Strait]] at [[Boobyalla]]. Above the influence of mining activities downstream at [[Branxholm]], the river at Ringarooma runs clear.<ref name="Loone1928"/>
== Economy and community == The foundation of Ringarooma's agricultural prosperity was laid by early settlers and accelerated by the large-scale land clearing and investment from figures like the Krushka brothers.<ref name="Loone1928"/> The dairy industry remains central to the town's identity and economy. Historically, Ringarooma supported two butter factories and was renowned for its cheese production.<ref name="Loone1928"/> In 2017, in recognition of its long history and strong community engagement with the industry, Ringarooma was named the "Legendairy Capital of Tasmania".<ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2017 |title=Industry News: Ringarooma: little town, big heart |url=http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/magazine/industry-news/general/ringarooma-little-town-big-heart/2755610.aspx |newspaper=The Australian Dairyfarmer |publisher=Fairfax Agricultural Media |accessdate=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321112722/http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/magazine/industry-news/general/ringarooma-little-town-big-heart/2755610.aspx|archive-date=21 March 2019}}</ref> Sustainable forestry is also a major employer in the region, with large quantities of timber historically dispatched from the nearby [[Legerwood, Tasmania|Legerwood]] railway station.<ref name="Loone1928"/>
The town serves as a local service centre and includes a primary school, a hotel, a general store and a community hall. According to the 2021 census, the median age in Ringarooma was 51. The primary ancestries were Australian (47.0%), English (45.7%), and Scottish (15.5%). 84.1% of residents were born in Australia.<ref name="abs2021"/>
== Attractions == Ringarooma is a gateway to several significant natural attractions, particularly waterfalls located in the nearby mountains.
* Ralphs Falls and Cashs Gorge are located in the [[Mount Victoria Forest Reserve]], about {{cvt|15|km}} south-east of the town. At over 90 metres, Ralphs Falls is one of Tasmania's tallest waterfalls. A network of walking tracks provides access to lookouts over the falls and a loop walk through Cashs Gorge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=1401 |title=Ralphs Falls |website=parks.tas.gov.au |publisher=Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania |accessdate=30 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northeasttasmania.com.au/ringarooma,-ralph-falls-and-cashs-gorge |title=Ringarooma, Ralph Falls & Cash's Gorge |website=northeasttasmania.com.au |publisher=North East Tasmania Tourism |accessdate=30 September 2018}}</ref> * [[St Columba Falls State Reserve]] is located near the town of [[Pyengana]], approximately {{cvt|25|km}} by road from Ringarooma. The reserve protects St Columba Falls, one of Tasmania's highest waterfalls, with a drop of over 90 metres.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=1409 |title=St Columba Falls State Reserve |website=parks.tas.gov.au |publisher=Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania |accessdate=30 September 2018}}</ref>
The surrounding mountains, including [[Mount Victoria (Tasmania)|Mount Victoria]] and the Blue Tier, offer opportunities for bushwalking and exploring diverse forest ecosystems.
== Notable people == * [[Bartlett Adamson]] (1884–1951) – journalist, poet, author and political activist, was born in Ringarooma.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/adamson-george-ernest-bartlett-9309 |title=Adamson, George Ernest Bartlett (1884–1951) |author=Robert Darby |chapter=George Ernest Bartlett Adamson (1884–1951) |website=adb.anu.edu.au |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> * [[Alfred Gaby]] (1892–1918) – recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] for actions during World War I, was born at Springfield, near Ringarooma.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gaby-alfred-edward-6266 |title=Gaby, Alfred Edward (1892–1918) |author=D. Elliot |chapter=Alfred Edward Gaby (1892–1918) |website=adb.anu.edu.au |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> * [[Samuel Hawkes (Australian politician)|Samuel Hawkes]] (1842–1927) – the first Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the electoral district of Ringarooma. * [[Alan Lindsay Wardlaw]] (1907–1970) – pastoralist, soldier and [[member of parliament|parliamentarian]], managed Mineral Banks, a farm in the Ringarooma district.<ref name="Loone1928"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}}
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[[Category:Ringarooma| ]] [[Category:Towns in Tasmania]] [[Category:North East Tasmania]] [[Category:1882 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Localities of Dorset Council (Australia)]]