# Scottsdale, Tasmania

Scottsdale is the largest town in north-east Tasmania, Australia, serving as the administrative and economic centre of the Dorset Council region. Located on the Tasman Highway, it connects Launceston to the east coast and acts as a key service hub for surrounding agricultural areas. The town has a strong historical association with potato and dairy farming, forestry, and poppy cultivation, industries that continue to support its economy. In recent years, Scottsdale has expanded into tourism, with attractions such as Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links and the Bridestowe Lavender Estate farm drawing visitors. It is also home to the Defence Science and Technology Group’s nutrition research facility.
Scottsdale is part of the federal Division of Bass and the state electoral division of the same name. According to the 2021 Australian census, Scottsdale had a population of 2,408 residents.

## History

Scottsdale was first surveyed in 1855 and was noted by surveyor James Reid Scott for its fertile soils and mild climate. The area developed into an agricultural hub, with initial land selections occurring in 1859. The town was originally named Ellesmere before being renamed Scottsdale in 1893.

## Economy

Scottsdale has long been an agricultural centre, with key industries including potato and dairy farming, forestry, poppy cultivation, and mining. The town has experienced economic diversification, with tourism playing an increasing role in its development. Government investment in infrastructure and small business incentives has contributed to Scottsdale’s regional growth.
The Defence Science and Technology Group operates a nutrition research facility in Scottsdale, originally established in 1958 and redeveloped in 2014.
Scottsdale’s tourism sector has benefited from attractions such as Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links and the Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm. The decline of the local timber industry has led to job losses, prompting local initiatives to attract new industries and retrain workers.

## Culture

Scottsdale has a strong community focus, with local sporting clubs, agricultural shows, and cultural events contributing to its identity. The town supports a range of sports, including Australian rules football, golf, and netball. The Scottsdale Art Gallery Café and other local venues promote regional artists and performers.

### Forest Eco Centre

The Forest Eco Centre was a visitor centre designed to educate the public about the state's forestry industry. Developed by award-winning Hobart architect Robert Morris-Nunn and constructed in the late 1990s, it was the first facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere to incorporate innovative, environmentally sustainable design principles. The centre’s distinctive conical structure was engineered to maximise passive heating and cooling, with a thermal chimney regulating airflow and temperature. It also housed offices for Forestry Tasmania, a café, and a gift shop showcasing locally crafted timber products.
Despite its architectural significance, the centre closed in 2014 due to structural issues, including water leaks that caused electrical hazards. The building was later sold, and in 2022, new owners announced plans to redevelop the site into accommodation with self-contained units and dormitory-style rooms for seasonal workers, tourists, and mountain biking visitors to North-East Tasmania.

## Demographics

In the 2021 Australian census, Scottsdale recorded a population of 2,408 people.
The majority of residents (84.5%) were born in Australia, with small migrant communities from England (3.2%), New Zealand (1.1%), and the Philippines (0.7%). English is the dominant language spoken at home by 91.4% of residents, while other languages spoken include Mandarin (0.5%), Italian (0.4%), and Tagalog (0.3%).
The median weekly household income in Scottsdale is $1,150, which is below the national median of $1,746. Approximately 27.3% of households report a weekly income below $650, while 8.9% earn more than $3,000 per week.
Christianity remains the most commonly practiced religion, with 49.2% of residents identifying with a Christian denomination, including Anglicanism (18.5%) and Catholicism (16.4%). 42.8% of residents reported having no religious affiliation, reflecting broader secular trends in Tasmania.

## Climate

Scottsdale has a oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), with very mild, relatively dry summers and cool, wet winters. Average maxima vary from 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) in January and February to 12.0 °C (53.6 °F) in July while average minima fluctuate between 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) in February and 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in July. Mean average annual precipitation is moderate, 971.6 mm (38.25 in) spread between 151.8 precipitation days, and is concentrated in winter. The town is not very sunny, with 165.9 cloudy days and only 68.0 clear days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on 30 January 2009 to −4.7 °C (23.5 °F) on 6 August 1974.
Climate data for Scottsdale (41º10'12"S, 147º29'24"E, 198 m AMSL) (1971–2024 normals and extremes) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.7 (99.9) | 35.9 (96.6) | 32.6 (90.7) | 26.5 (79.7) | 22.3 (72.1) | 18.2 (64.8) | 17.9 (64.2) | 18.9 (66.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 27.1 (80.8) | 31.3 (88.3) | 35.3 (95.5) | 37.7 (99.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) | 23.0 (73.4) | 21.3 (70.3) | 17.9 (64.2) | 14.8 (58.6) | 12.6 (54.7) | 12.0 (53.6) | 12.6 (54.7) | 14.3 (57.7) | 16.5 (61.7) | 18.9 (66.0) | 20.9 (69.6) | 17.3 (63.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 10.1 (50.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 5.9 (42.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | 3.8 (38.8) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.8 (40.6) | 5.9 (42.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 9.4 (48.9) | 7.2 (44.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) | 1.4 (34.5) | −0.8 (30.6) | −2.8 (27.0) | −2.0 (28.4) | −3.3 (26.1) | −3.8 (25.2) | −4.7 (23.5) | −2.8 (27.0) | −2.6 (27.3) | −0.6 (30.9) | 0.4 (32.7) | −4.7 (23.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 57.4 (2.26) | 40.7 (1.60) | 56.5 (2.22) | 77.5 (3.05) | 94.5 (3.72) | 103.2 (4.06) | 118.5 (4.67) | 116.1 (4.57) | 92.2 (3.63) | 83.3 (3.28) | 67.3 (2.65) | 64.7 (2.55) | 971.6 (38.25) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.9 | 8.2 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 15.8 | 16.9 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 151.8 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 53 | 54 | 55 | 63 | 68 | 71 | 70 | 67 | 65 | 61 | 60 | 56 | 62 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 10.2 (50.4) | 9.1 (48.4) | 7.6 (45.7) | 6.1 (43.0) | 5.3 (41.5) | 4.9 (40.8) | 5.9 (42.6) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.9 (48.0) | 9.7 (49.5) | 8.1 (46.6) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 263.5 | 231.7 | 217.0 | 180.0 | 148.8 | 132.0 | 136.4 | 164.3 | 174.0 | 223.2 | 231.0 | 251.1 | 2,353 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 58 | 60 | 57 | 56 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 50 | 49 | 55 | 53 | 54 | 53 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1971–2024 normals and extremes) ||||||||||||||

## Access

Scottsdale is connected to Tasmania’s road network primarily via the Tasman Highway, which links the town to Launceston to the west and the north-east coast, including Bridport and St Helens. The Bridport Road provides a direct route to Bridport, supporting regional transport and freight movements.
Public transport services are limited, with bus connections provided by local operators linking Scottsdale to Launceston and surrounding towns. The town is serviced by the North East Bus Service, which operates passenger routes to Launceston and other regional destinations.
Historically, Scottsdale was connected to Tasmania’s rail network via the North-East Tasmania Rail Line, which operated between Launceston and Herrick. The railway played a crucial role in supporting the town’s timber and agricultural industries but was decommissioned in the early 2000s. Some sections of the former rail corridor have been repurposed into recreational cycling and walking trails, including the North East Rail Trail, which extends from Scottsdale towards Billycock Hill, attracting cyclists and tourists to the region.
The town’s road infrastructure has been progressively upgraded to accommodate increasing freight and tourism traffic, with improvements made to the Tasman Highway and surrounding routes to enhance safety and accessibility.

## Notable people
### Arts

* Keith Adams, filmmaker and adventurer known for his film Northern Safari (1956).

### Politicians

* Tania Rattray, independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council (upper house) in the division of McIntyre.
* Tony Rundle, former journalist and Premier of Tasmania from 18 March 1996 to 14 September 1998.

### Sports

* Brian Booth (1924–2020), cricketer
* Thomas Rocher (1930–2018), cricketer
* Trevor Ranson (1912–1996), VFL footballer
* Ike Sellers (1905–1997), VFL footballer