Somerset, Tasmania

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Somerset
state = tas


caption =
lga = Waratah-Wynyard Council
postcode = 7322
est =
pop = 3,078
pop_footnotes=
elevation=
elevation_footnotes=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Braddon
fedgov = Braddon
dist1 = 309
dir1 = NW
location1= Hobart
dist2 = 154
dir2 = NW
location2= Launceston
dist3 = 55
dir3 = NW
location3= Devonport
dist4 = 8
dir4 = W
location4= Burnie

Somerset is a small township to the west of Burnie, Tasmania, Australia. Today the city of Burnie encompasses the entire Burnie-Somerset urban area; however, the town is part of the Waratah/Wynyard municipal area.

Geography

Somerset is located on the estuary of the Cam River mid-way between the township of Wynyard and the city of Burnie. The Cam River is the borderline of where the Waratah-Wynyard Council meets the City of Burnie. A beach stretches along the full length of the Somerset coastline from the Cam River to the far western outskirts.

Climate

The average temperature in summer ranges from 12.5 to 21 °C with drier days as warm as 30 °C, with around 16 hours of sunlight per day. In winter, temperature ranges from 6 to 13 °C, and only 8 hours of sunlight.

Demographics

At the 2006 census, Somerset had a population of 3,078.Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC64071|name=Somerset (State Suburb)|accessdate=2007-11-14|quick=on]

Economy

There are a number of small businesses in Somerset with almost all along the main street.

Notable industries in Somerset include: Gunns Veneers, which is one of only three production facilities in Australasia. Gunns Veneers is Australasia’s largest producer of sliced veneers and the world’s largest producer of Eucalypt veneers. The Burnie branch of William Adams. William Adams is a CAT Rental Dealer as well as a servicing department. They specialize in the repairing, maintenance and modifications of heavy machinery used for mining, forestry and agriculture.

Media

The Advocate is the local newspaper for the region, with its press and mailroom located in Burnie.

Somerset has access to the ABC, SBS, WIN and Southern Cross television stations. The fifth channel, Tasmanian Digital Television, has recently started transmitting from the tower at Round Hill, East of Burnie. However many residents still cannot access this channel.

port

Somerset is home to four sporting venues: a football field, soccer field, tennis courts and a recreation center.

Education

Somerset does not have a public high school or collage, with all student having to continue schooling in either Wynyard or Burnie.

There are two primary schools located in Somerset, these being Somerset Primary and West Somerset Primary. There is one private school in Somerset, Seabrook Christian School, located on the outskirts of the town. The school follows the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum and allocates for students from kinder to grade 12.

Transport

Somerset is connected to the surrounding areas by the Bass Highway which runs through the town following the coast. Somerset is also connected to the West Coast by the Murchison Highway which begins beside the Cam River.

The only public transport in the area is Metro Tasmania which offers bus services from Wynyard to Ulverstone.

The Burnie Airport is located in the township of Wynyard, a 15 minute drive away.

References

External links

* [http://www.warwyn.tas.gov.au Waratah-Wynyard Council]