St Helens is a town on Georges Bay, and is the largest town on the north-east coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies on the Tasman Highway, about 150 km east of Launceston. It has a population of 2049, and in the early 2000s it was one of the fastest growing areas of Tasmania. The town is part of the Break O'Day Council. The locality usually includes the surrounding areas of Binalong Bay and Stieglitz.

The town was first used as a whaling base in the early 19th century. When tin was discovered in the surrounding area in the 1870s, St Helens became the shipping port for the mines. This was the first time a coach service had been introduced to the town; previous access had only been by sea.

Today St Helens is a popular resort for fishing, swimming and other aquatic activities. Its economy is based largely on tourism, fishing and timber.

The town was named after St Helens, Isle of Wight.

Climate

St Helens has a mild temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and sunny and winters are quite cool. Rainfall throughout the year is very consistent, with an average of 54.2mm in February and 76.2mm in June. Being on the East Coast, St Helens winter temperatures are warmer than most parts of Tasmania. Summer temperatures however are not as warm as inland areas, although they are still warmer than Tasmania's capital, Hobart.

See also

• St Helens Airport

References