Mount Owen (Tasmania)
Mount Owen | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,146 m (3,760 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 774 m (2,539 ft)[1] |
Isolation | 8.53 km (5.30 mi)[1] |
Coordinates | 42°05′24″S 145°36′00″E / 42.09000°S 145.60000°E[2] |
Geography | |
Location in Tasmania | |
Location | West Coast, Tasmania, Australia |
Parent range | West Coast Range |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | from North West along track to TV tower |
Mount Owen is a
With an elevation of 1,146 metres (3,760 ft) above sea level,[1] like most of the mountains in the West Coast Range, it was named by the geologist Charles Gould after Richard Owen. The taller mountains were named after opponents or critics of Charles Darwin, the smaller after his supporters. The north western slopes are clearly seen from Gormanston and the Linda Valley 'Long Spur'.[3]
Features and access
Historically, the tree line on Mount Owen was to a high level. However, timber on the slopes was used by the local mining operations. In the early days of settlement, fires started on the slopes destroyed housing in Queenstown[4] and threatened the North Mount Lyell Railway.[5]
By the early twentieth century, the slopes of Mount Owen were denuded and had limited remnant vegetation.[6][7]
A map in
In the late 1890s a number of mining ventures that utilized proximity to mining leases with the name Mount Lyell as an attractor of investment, tried to elicit interest in leases on the lower slope of Mount Owen.[8][9]
Current conditions
There are TV and communications towers on its north west peak (North Spur), which has been used a vehicle access track. Other geological features near Mount Owen include Mount Lyell to the north and Mount Huxley to the south.
Mount Owen is accessible on foot along a formed four wheel track. As early as 1938 suggestions were made to create a formed track for tourists and visitors.[10]
The surface is gravel and rocks. It is a moderate to hard walk and takes about 4 hours including the return trip. The walk starts at Karlson's Gap, the saddle between Gormanston and Mt Owen.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Mount Owen, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Mount Owen (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
- S2CID 126902525. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 27 December 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "FIRES IN TASMANIA." The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 9 October 1914. p. 11. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "LYELL DISTRICT DESCRIBED". Zeehan and Dundas Herald. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 12 September 1917. p. 1. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "FLORA AND FAUNA". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 22 July 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "MINING MEETINGS". The Age. No. 12887. Victoria, Australia. 19 June 1896. p. 7. Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- Launceston Examiner. Vol. LVII, no. 277. Tasmania, Australia. 23 November 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Track to Summit of Mount Owen". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XCVII, no. 83. Tasmania, Australia. 18 June 1938. p. 5 (LATE NEWS EDITION and DAILY). Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Further reading
- ISBN 0-7246-2265-9.
- Whitham, Charles (2003). Western Tasmania – A land of riches and beauty (Reprint 2003 ed.). Queenstown: Municipality of Queenstown.