I get Western Australia, but what's Tasmania's excuse? (agriculture, to move)

[AuburnAL]

I saw the Western Australia population thread, and it got me to wondering about Tasmania. Every video I have seen of its countryside reminds me of the eastern U.S., Canada, and Australia. In other words the very places that attracted a ton of people when they were colonies. Tasmania doesn't even seem to be a long ways from everywhere which is why I always thought New Zealand had a low population. All that said it's largest city has a population small enough as to be unremarkable in most of the world. So why didn't people settle there?

[Bakery Hill]

In its early days it was dependent on the whaling industry, an industry that didn't survive into the 20th century. It also missed out on the gold rushes of the 1800s that gave NSW and Vic a real economic and migration boost. Most of Tas is actually too mountainous for grazing or farming crops like wheat, so much of its agriculture was characterized by fruit orchards, probably a much higher cost, lower return style of farming.

All of that would have constrained Tasmania's growth until the the 20th century, by which time other states had grown much larger and wealthier. It was only when cheap hydro generated electricity became widely available that Tas had any attraction for heavier industries.

But all this meant that Tasmania to this day is characterized by large tracts of stunningly beautiful wilderness areas, while its cities still retain an old world, colonial era character. Both of which make it a modern day tourist Mecca, and give it a pretty unique character.

[artemis agrotera]

It's 550km from the mainland, seperated by fairly rough water, where ships were often lost

Bass Strait Maritime Centre

As bakery said, there was more opportunity, work and options in Victoria/NSW

[Phil P]

Is there a big retiree movement towards it Tasmania? It seems like areas with low COL and high QOL where the job situation no longer matters seem to attract retirees.

[WildColonialGirl]

The weather's not great. And Australian retirees don't tend to move as much as Americans do.

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by WildColonialGirl

The weather's not great. And Australian retirees don't tend to move as much as Americans do.

The weather looks pretty decent actually, as long as someone doesn't mind clouds.

[Bakery Hill]

Originally Posted by Phil P

Is there a big retiree movement towards it Tasmania? It seems like areas with low COL and high QOL where the job situation no longer matters seem to attract retirees.

I suspect a lot of retirees make their way through Tasmania......Grey Nomads travelling across the country following the seasons.

The number 1 state for permanent relocation on retirement is probably Queensland, though.