Early inhabitants The area now known as Devonport lies within the traditional country of several Palawa/Pakana (
Tasmanian Aboriginal) groups associated with the
North Nations. These included the Punnilerpanner of Panatana (
Port Sorell), the Pallittorre of Lartitickitheker (
Quamby Bluff), the Noeteeler of Ningherner or Parteenno (
Hampshire Hills), and the Plairhekehillerplue of Emu Bluff. The Mersey Valley, including Panatana and the Devonport area, was an important gathering place, rich in resources such as birdlife, plant foods, and weaving materials. Seasonal activities included the harvesting of swan and duck eggs along the Mersey River in early spring. Indigenous resistance to settlement was evident, leading to the killing of Captain Bartholomew Boyle Thomas on 31 August 1831. The first European settlement in the Devonport region, predating 1850, was established on a block of land at Frogmore, near present-day Latrobe.
Arrival of settlers and economic growth (1850–1870s) In 1850, the arrival of a settler named Oldaker marked the establishment of present-day Devonport. Saw milling and coal mining gained momentum with the arrival of English settlers aboard the sailing ship
Balmoral in 1854. During the 1850s, twin settlements, Formby and Torquay, emerged on opposite banks at the mouth of the Mersey River. Torquay, the larger of the two, thrived with various amenities, including police, post offices, magistrate services, hotels, shipyards, and stores. A river ferry service connected Formby and Torquay. Between 1870 and 1880, the shipping industry experienced growth, leading to efforts to deepen the mouth of the river.
Key developments (1880s–1900s) In 1882, construction began on the Marine Board building, which remains a prominent landmark in the city. The completion of the
Mersey Bluff Lighthouse in 1889 further improved maritime safety along the north-west coast. At the turn of the century, the arrival of the railway brought major changes to the Formby area, combining railhead and port facilities that spurred a period of rapid growth and building activity. In 1890, a public vote unified the settlements of Torquay and Formby, officially creating the town of
Devonport. The opening of the
Victoria Bridge in 1902 provided the first permanent land transport connection between Devonport and East Devonport, significantly strengthening trade and communication across the
River Mersey. Around this time, limestone deposits in the Melrose–Eugenana district became important to local industry. Quarries supplied material to the
Broken Hill Proprietary Company smelters, and in 1916 the government reconstructed the old Don Railway to transport limestone from Melrose to the Devonport wharves, supporting regional industrial development. In 1924, the Victoria Bridge collapsed following damage caused by
Teredo navalis. Although no injuries were reported, the bridge was subsequently rebuilt and reinforced.
Emergence of the Goliath-Portland Cement Company (1926) Goliath Cement, now known as Cement Australia, traces its origins back to the Tasmanian Cement Company in 1923. Supercharged by abundant limestone deposits and
Railton's proximity to shipping outlets, the company pioneered advancements such as the development of bulk cement transportation by sea and boasted the first fully automatic mill in Australia. The Railton facility, significant for its role in supplying cement for iconic projects like the
Sydney Harbour Bridge, also produced asbestos products from 1947 to 1986, resulting in the company addressing compensation settlements to 3,000 workers who were exposed to asbestos in 2010.
Advancements in transportation and infrastructure (1930s–1950s) The 1930s brought notable advancements in transportation and infrastructure with the introduction of the motor car and modern roadworks. Street sealing projects were undertaken, main roads were upgraded, and the movement of goods became increasingly efficient across northern Tasmania. Constructed by
Hansen Yuncken, the
Ovaltine factory opened in 1943 at Quoiba, south of Devonport, becoming the company’s second-largest manufacturing facility globally to meet demand across
Australasia and
Southeast Asia. The post-war decades also saw the arrival of other major manufacturing enterprises.
Tootal Broadhurst Lee established a weaving mill at Devonport in 1949, later expanding production through the 1950s. Known locally as “Tootals”, the factory was later operated by Australian Weaving Mills, producing textiles and towels for national distribution. In East Devonport, Tascot Templeton Carpets became a major carpet manufacturer, employing more than 150 workers until its closure in 2010. In November 1952, the opening of the aerodrome at Pardoe marked a new era in regional air travel, with regular airline services linking Devonport to Victoria. Destined for Melbourne, the first freight aircraft departed carrying a load of Ovaltine. In 1955, Gordon Edgell & Sons purchased the former
Heinz cannery at Quoiba, establishing a significant food-processing plant that later became one of Tasmania’s largest processors of peas and other vegetables. The factory continues to operate under
Simplot Australia, producing frozen vegetables for the
Edgell and
Birds Eye brands and remaining one of the city’s largest employers.
Princess of Tasmania ferry service (1959) '' at
Port Melbourne shortly after entering service The
roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal, named the Sir
Robert Cosgrove terminal, at East Devonport was officially opened on 26 September 1959 by the Premier of Tasmania
Eric Reece. In the same year, the
Australian National Line ferry
Princess of Tasmania entered service, establishing the first RoRo shipping link between Victoria and Tasmania across Bass Strait. Contemporary reporting described the service as converting the Bass Strait crossing into a “sea-road”, allowing motorists to remain with their vehicles for the duration of the voyage. On its first commercial voyage on 2 October 1959, the
Princess of Tasmania carried 334 passengers. Accommodation included single, two and four-berth cabins for 178 passengers, with a further 156 passengers seated in three lounges fitted with reclining lounge chairs. The vessel could transport up to 100 vehicles, including freight vehicles and a Royal Mail van, and was crewed by approximately 60 staff members, some of whom had transferred from the
Taroona.
Urban expansion and industrial development (1950–1979) Following the second world war, Devonport experienced sustained residential growth. New subdivisions were established westward across the Don Valley, northward toward Coles Beach, and southward along both banks of the
Mersey River. By the late 1960s, the municipality was recorded as one of Tasmania's fastest-growing urban centres. The regional economy was significantly altered by the construction of the
Mersey–Forth Power Scheme between 1963 and 1973. Developed by the
Hydro Electric Commission, the project involved seven dams and power stations utilizing the Mersey, Forth, Wilmot, and Fisher rivers. This infrastructure provided the
hydro-electric capacity required for the expansion of energy-intensive manufacturing and food-processing industries in the Devonport area. In June 1973, a
prestressed concrete bridge was opened to replace the original
Victoria Bridge. The new crossing improved traffic flow across the Mersey River and facilitated a direct link between the city and the
Bass Highway.
City proclamation and modern developments (1981–2014) Devonport achieved city status on 21 April 1981, proclaimed by
Prince Charles in a ceremony held on the
Devonport Oval. ==Demographics==