The Earliest Settlers

Aborigines
The Tasmanian aborigines lived in and around the Bridport area with camps recorded in 1829-31. The Trawlwoolway and Pyemmairrenerpairrener bands of the North-East tribe inhabited the area around Bridport when Europeans first came to the area.

Sealers
The first Europeans to frequent this area were the sealers who visited the coast from their bases on the nearby Furneaux Islands in order to capture aboriginal women for wives or barter for skins.

First European Settlers
The region from George Town to the George River in the North East was named Dorset after a county in Southern England. The name Bridport along with many others such as Weymouth, Portland, Poole, Seaton, St Albans and Swanage were named by the surveyors who chartered the coast by boat after coastal towns in the county of Dorset.

The first settlers in Bridport were the Andersons (1832), Charles Hardwicke and Peter Brewer. The area was taken up for sheep country as wool was the principal export. Andrew and Janet Anderson whom Anderson Bay is named after were granted 1800 acres at the present day “Barnbougle”. Peter Brewer was granted 500 acres and built “Bowood”.

The settlement grew as a supply centre for small boats taking supplies to the nearby settlements. It became of greater importance as the inland areas were developed.

Boom Days 1869-1889
Two events had a great impact on the development of Bridport. One was the discovery of gold at Waterhouse and the other the discovery of tin along the Ringarooma River. Although the rush was short lived it had an impact on Bridport, a substantial wharf was built for supplies and miners arriving into Bridport and great quantities of tin were transported out.

The port declined in importance after the opening of the railway line from Launceston to Scottsdale. Surrounding farm properties continued to prosper and wool was still shipped from the port but dependent on the tin-carting trade for its prosperity, the population declined and boats no longer called regularly and Bridport had a peaceful interlude from 1890-1910.

By 1900 Bridport was fast becoming a favourite summer resort attracting visitors from a distance to the houses of accommodation for the mild climate, sea and sand.

Re-Birth Era 1911-1920
In 1911 a timber mill was built at Forester and a railway line was constructed into Bridport to transport timber out to Melbourne. This brought in an influx of families to work at the mill and in time the establishment of a fishing industry.

With the introduction of the motor vehicle the town prospered as it became an accessible seaside holiday destination. Bridport developed rapidly and after a Government land sale there were many new holiday homes built.

In 1930 the mill ceased operation and the railway line was removed. Bridport once again became a quiet holiday place.

Today
Today Bridport, with a population of approx. 1200, has a fishing and boat building industry and surrounding farms. Bridport has become a popular residential centre for retired people and those working in the Scottsdale district.

It continues to be a popular holiday destination; over the holiday period the population exceeds 2,000-3,000 people.

Taken from Bridport Online website http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/home.cgi?oacID=38

BridportRadio gratefully acknowledges material sourced from "A History of Bridport" J. Jennings. All photos on this page provided by J. Jennings