St Helens, Tasmania
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St Helens is a town on Georges Bay, 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 1145 (1991 census), although in the early 2000s it was one of the fastest growing areas of Tasmania. and is part of the Municipality of Break O'Day. 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 fishing and timber.
The town was named by Captain Tobias Furneaux in 1773, after St Helens, Isle of Wight.