Kempton, Tasmania

Kempton is a village in the local government area (LGA) of the Southern Midlands in the Central LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 36 kilometres (22 mi) south-west of the town of Oatlands. The 2016 census has a population of 386 for the state suburb of Kempton.^[1] In a low rainfall region of plains and low hills, it is mostly used for grazing sheep.

Kempton Tasmania
Kempton, Tasmania
Kempton
Coordinates	42°31′S 147°12′E
Population	386 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	7030
Location	48 km (30 mi) N of Hobart 36 km (22 mi) SW of Oatlands
LGA(s)	Southern Midlands
Region	Central
State electorate(s)	Lyons
Federal division(s)	Lyons
Localities around Kempton: Melton Mowbray Melton Mowbray Colebrook Dysart Kempton Colebrook Dysart Dysart Campania

History

Originally the home of the Big River tribe of Aboriginal people, Kempton was first settled by Europeans in 1820.^[2] "Green Water Holes" was its original name, but by 1820 it had changed to "Green Water Ponds", which was then abbreviated to Green Ponds in 1821. Two convict stations were situated in Green Ponds and a military barracks at Glenfern Estate.^[3] In 1838 the town was renamed after early administrator and businessman Anthony Fenn Kemp who established the property Mount Vernon immediately to the north of where the township later grew. The hotel at Kempton was a popular first night stop for the trip from Hobart to Launceston. Green Ponds Post Office opened on 1 June 1832 and was renamed Kempton in 1895.^[4]

A railway line connected the town with Hobart from 1891 until 1947.^[5] Kempton was gazetted as a locality in 1970.^[6]

Geography

The Jordan River flows through the north-west corner.^[7]

Road infrastructure

National Route 1 (Midland Highway) passes through from south to north-west.^[6][8]

References

1. "2016 Census Quick Stats Kempton (Tas.)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
2. Kempton The companion to Tasmanian History
3. T. R. MacLeod, A History of Green Ponds, Hobart, 1962, pp. 6-7; J. and J. McDonald, Three William McDonalds, Canberra, 2010, pp. 15-17; cf. http://www.discovertasmania.com/destinations/hobart_and_surrounds/kempton.
4. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
5. A Short History of the Apsley Branch Line Stokes, H. J. W. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1971 pp152-160
6. "Placenames Tasmania – Kempton". Placenames Tasmania. Select “Search”, enter "334R", click “Search”, select row, map is displayed, click “Details”. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
7. "Kempton, Tasmania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
8. "Tasmanian Road Route Codes" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.