St Helens:
The Entrance & the Granite Story
St Helens is the East Coast gateway to the Trail.
It is from here many of the Chinese miners entered Tasmania, walking to the mineral deposits of the Blue Tier, Moorina, Weldborough and further out into the North-East.
St Helens is also significant in that it is located on the eastern-most edge of the largest single granite deposit in Tasmania. Tin is found in granite.
The interpretation here will focus on the geological story, settlement story of the 1800s and the role that St Helens played in being the access point into the north-east. It will also give travellers an overview of the Trail, and a taste of what they may experience.

Blue Tier:
The Mountain of Tin and the Environment
The Blue Tier is a mountain made of granite, the igneous rock from which tin is derived. While primary deposits of tin are locked within the granite and require the crushing of the rock to release it such as was done by the Anchor Mine stampers at Lottah, secondary deposits are formed over time through the break down of the granite by weathering and erosion, water washing the heavy metal into alluvial deposits at the bottom of ancient rivers.
The Anchor Mine was one of the largest in the vicinity of the Blue Tier, however there were hundreds of tin mines, mostly small scale, in this area between 1874 and the 1940s.
In the late 1800s the Blue Tier was called the “Mountain of Tin”. Across this expansive landscape the evidence of previous usage abounds and yet the resilience of the land is also ever present, articulating the delicate balance between man actions and nature.
The interpretation here will focus on the historical use of the land and nature’s ability to regenerate.

Weldborough:
The Chinese Spirit
Weldborough was the location of the Chinese temple (Joss House), although there is some claim that it first stood at Pioneer. (Joss House is a coloquial Australian term for Chinese temple, ‘joss’ being the incense that is burned there. Opinions differ as to the appropriateness of the use of the term.)
The Temple incorporated a magnificent altar of the god Kwan Ti, complete with scrolls, texts and ornate, wooden carvings. The Temple was the focus for fireworks displays and feasting. Following the festivities, gifts and food offerings were placed on the altar at the Weldborough cemetery and incense burned for all the departed relatives.
In 1934 Hee Jarm, who had been caring for the temple, became concerned for its future and arranged for its treasures including the main altar, rich gold and embroidered items, carved wood, flags, banners and ornately dressed puppets to be relocated at the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston where it can still be seen.
The Chinese, while accommodating the European when necessary, held onto their cultural practices through the construction of temples and pig ovens and the conducting of ceremonies. They also undertook dynamic Chinese New Year celebrations which they were happy to share with the locals.
Weldborough, together with Moorina and Branholm provides the opportunity to tell the story of where the Chinese came from, why they came, where they worked and how they lived.

Moorina:
The Chinese Spirit
Moorina was another primary location for Chinese mining. Today the cemetery at Moorina remains a resting place for the Chinese and the grave site is marked by a ceremonial oven.
Interpretation here will focus on the evidence that Chinese kept their culture intact, carrying their ceremonial customs to wherever they were living.

Derby:
The Tin Story
Derby was the site of the Briseis Mine, the richest mine in the region. A large scale enterprise, the power of water was harnessed to hose down the cliff face and to drill deep into the river bed. In this way the tin story can also be understood as a water story.The alluvial tin was layed down millions of years ago when the action of water broke down the granite, releasing the tin (cassiterite) particles held within it. To extract the tin, water is used to mix the earth into a slurry so that the metal can be settled out in the sluicing tanks.
Having reshaped the landscape, the collapse of the Cascade Dam during the severe weather of 1929 caused a number of deaths and the near destruction of the township and its many of the mining leases.
Ironically man’s activity had inadvertently reverted the river to its original course.
Why was such a huge engineering feat thought to be worthwhile?
The interpretation centre at Deby will tell the story of tin and why it was so important. Amongst other uses, tin provided an efficient means for preserving food leading to exploration of far flung wilderness such as the Arctic Circle and to the ability of imperial armies to conduct wars in inhospitable environments.

Branxholm:
The Chinese and European Relationship
Attitudes to Chinese immigrants were once more hard line than they are today. A confrontation is said to have occurred at the Branxholm Bridge when Chinese miners were prevented from crossing and getting to the minefields by hostile White miners. The latter felt their livelihood was threatened by the infiltration of foreigners who could undercut their wages. The symbolism of this altercation is contrasted with the increasing pride that people of Chinese decent have towards their heritage. While this may not always have been the case, time can change the way the past is perceived.
The stories pertaining to the Chinese that have been retained in the community are to the most part constructed from a European perspective and the Chinese voice is rarely if ever presented. From the documentation including oral histories, it would seem that it was the Chinese who adapted and fitted into the Tasmanian setting either as the exotic ‘other’ or as the ‘model’ European.
Branxholm provides the opportunity to interpret the Chinese story by remembering how our attitudes can change, honouring the past and also continuing to build understanding into the future.

Scottsdale:
The Entrance and the Land
Scottsdale was opened up in the mid 1800s, the fertile land encouraging the development of agriculture. From small holdings to international corporations, including the ADF research centre for long lasting and lightweight ration production, Scottsdale has been a centre for food production. The history of this community follows the fashions in food from growing to survive, to production on a commercial scale, to the downturn in the economy and finally to the return to fresh food.
Tin mining has played a significant role in the development of food production and preservation.
The invention of the tin can was made possible by virtue of tin’s resistance to corrosion and non-toxicity. The advent of tinned food enabled food choices which defied the seasons. It also played an important role in increasing man’ s mobility, enabling exploration of harsh wilderness and conquests of inhospitable places. Scottsdale provides the opportunity to tell the tin can story explaining the relationship between food preservation and the tin mining boom. At Scottsdale there will also be an overview of the Trail for travellers beginning their journey there.

Launceston:
The Chinese Temple
In 1930 the Chinese Temple from Weldborough was donated to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston as there was fear that without anyone to undertake the necessary care it would rapidly fall into disrepair. The Temple can be viewed at the Royal Park site.