Waratah Courthouse Museum

Waratah sits at the Eastern Gateway to the Tarkine Wilderness, a 40-minute drive south of Burnie and a 50-minute drive from Burnie/Wynyard Airport at Wynyard.

The town once was home to the richest tin mine in the world, and visitors today can explore the tales of pioneering courage and entrepreneurial spirit that created a thriving community. In 1871 this lead to the discovery of riches from beneath the earth that was credited with the economic revival of the entire state of Tasmania.

The Waratah Museum is located in the historic former Courthouse building and houses an eclectic display of local historical artefacts, photos and personal stories. A replica of ‘Philosopher’ Smith’s Hut sits next to the Museum, demonstrating the conditions of miners during those early days.

The picture-postcard township of Waratah boasts a waterfall in the main street, and a short drive to the nearby Philosopher Falls walking track will transport visitors to a mysterious world of tangled trees, hidden waterfalls and cartoon-like fungi. Whyte Hills Lookout also provides an eagle’s view of the vastness of the ancient Tarkine Wilderness.