Mount Arthur

Mt Arthur is named for Lt-Governor Arthur, the chief administrator of Tasmania from 1823 and 1837. His tenure was mostly marked by the establishment of administrative and penal institutions, including Port Arthur.

The summit cairn was built in the late 1800s as a survey marker for northeast Tasmania.

The area around the mountain was an important timber district early in Tasmanian colonial settlement. From 1879, the Lisle valley, on the northern aspect of Mount Arthur, was the centre of gold mining and for twenty years the town of Lisle was a thriving commercial centre. The town no longer exists, apart from the remains of the town cemetery.

Due to its close proximity to Launceston, its summit is home to a large number of radio towers. WayFM (105.3 and 98.1), Launceston, and Northern Tasmania’s Christian community radio station, have their tower on Mount Arthur. There are several amateur radio repeaters installed.

It is also a popular destination for hikers. There is a beautiful, four hour return walk from the top of Mountain Road. This walk passes through stands of tree ferns and myrtle beeches, towering eucalypts and a tumbled boulder slope, and then emerges onto the alpine environment on the summit. There is car parking at the start of the walk.

A shorter walk starts from a car parking area at the top of White’s Mill Road. The road becomes very rough towards the top. Once the car park is reached, it is about a forty minute walk to the summit.