Sassafras is a locality and small rural community in the local government areas of Latrobe and Meander Valley, in the Launceston and North-west and west regions of Tasmania. It is located about inland from the town of Devonport. The Mersey River forms part of its western boundary, and the Bass Highway passes through from south to north-west. The 2016 census determined a population of 347 for the state suburb of Sassafras.
History.
European settlement came to the Sassafras district in the 1850s. The land was covered by almost impervious scrub, and it had to be cleared before farming could begin. An interdenominational chapel was built for Henry Rockliff and opened by Rev. Isaac Rooney on 1 January 1865. It was built on his own property, Skelbrook. A Wesleyan Church was opened in 1876 near there. Schooling was first conducted in a "hut", then in the chapel. The first public school was either opened in 1871 or five years after 1865. The area during this time had a blacksmith, wheelwright, bootmaker, flour mill, butcher, post office and police station. The property of Skelbrook is still owned by the Rockliff family (as of 2018[ [update]]) and produces potatoes, poppies, beans, peas, broad beans, baby carrots and wheat.
Road infrastructure.
Four shielded minor roads terminate at the Bass Highway in Sassafras. The C153 route (Native Plains Road) runs south from the north-western end to Railton. The C704 route (Oppenheims Road) runs north and east from the northern extremity to Harford, and from there provides access to many localities, including Port Sorell. The C706 route (East Sassafras Road) runs east within Sassafras and then north to Harford, while the C713 route (Chapel Road) runs north from the centre to Harford.
References.
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