From its source to its mouth, the Mersey River flows through varied topography, rich agricultural land and many interesting centres of population. The Meandering the Mersey (MTM) series will follow, as much as practical, the course of the Mersey River with caches being placed at varying intervals. We trust you will enjoy the area.
The Mersey River has very strong historical and current links with interstate and intrastate shipping. In the early years small boats plied their way along the northern coast of Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait carrying produce and bringing in supplies. Larger vessels traded interstate, mainly through the ports of Melbourne and Sydney. For many years limestone, which was mined at Melrose just south of Devonport, was sent to the Newcastle steel works because of the exceptional qualities of the limestone.
The passenger ships SS Oonah, SS Loongana, SS Nairana and SS Taroona were well known along the coast, serving the ports of Stanley, Burnie, Devonport, Beauty Point and Launceston. However with the launching of the MV Princess of Tasmania, Australia's first roll- on/roll-off passenger and vehicle ferry, the Mersey River became the focus of sea passenger services across Bass Strait.
The importance of the Mersey River to the maritime history of northern Tasmania is featured in the Bass Strait Maritime Centre which is adjacent to this cache and features the original Devonport Harbour Master's House and a purpose built facility which houses many exhibits and offers visitors the opportunity to use the simulator to berth the SS Nairana at the Devonport Wharf.
There is plenty to see and experience in the area either before or after looking for this small cache.