Skip to content
Menu
Alerts
Search the site
Google
Translate
Disclaimer

Search the site

Close search form
Get your parks pass
Old stone ruins from the original Lisdillion saltworks with views of Salt works beach in the frame.
Lisdillon Ruins (photograph: Craig Vertigan)

Lisdillon Saltworks

Find out more

FeaturesExpand/Collapse

  • Boat ramp
  • Dogs on leads are permitted
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Parking

ContactExpand/Collapse

  • Triabunna-Maria Island Field Centre
    1A Victoria St
    Triabunna TAS 7190
    Phone: 03 6165 4098

About

​Nestled on a secluded beach at Little Swanport, near Swansea on the East Coast of Tasmania, the remains of the Lisdillon Saltworks mark a significant part of Tasmania’s industrial heritage, taking its name from the estate where the Saltworks were established.

The Saltworks were established by James Radcliff using convict labour in the late 1830s and while only in operation for a short time, they were technically advanced and well constructed – so much so that the site is one of only two remaining early salt manufacture works in eastern Australia where substantial ruins can still be found. 

Expansive views over Great Oyster Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula beyond await visitors to Lisdillon. Equally beautiful views along Saltworks Beach and back to the mouth of Little Swanport River. Cast your eyes to the rugged headland where in days gone by you would have seen a windmill used to raise water from the sea to produce the salt. Step inside the Saltworks to uncover a significant piece of East Coast Tasmania’s history and Australia’s industrial heritage.​​​​

​​

​​​The surrounding beaches are important shorebird habitat.  

Although dogs are welcome in most areas of the reserve, please follow the dog control signage located at the beach entry tracks.

​The salt works were not a commercial success, and by 1841 had ceased operating. There has been some conjecture about the reasons for their failure. The proximity to the mouth of the Little Swanport River may have led to the dilution of the sea water, thus requiring more labour and fuel to extract the salt. The withdrawal of assigned convict labour and the removal of an import duty on salt, both of which occurred in the 1840s, have also been suggested as reasons for the closure of the Lisdillon works.​

In 1920 the Lisdillon estate was bought from the Mitchell family by Sir Henry Jones. His son resided there with his family for many years. John Hood acquired the property in the 1950s, before selling it to the Cotton family from nearby 'Kelvedon'. The land surrounding the old salt works was subsequently subdivided and sold. The main part of the salt works ruins was returned to the Crown in 1983 and is now managed as part of Little Swamport Conservation Area. The Lisdillon Saltworks site is now a registered Heritage Site under the Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995.

Recently, conservation works have been undertaken by the Parks and Wildlife Service to prevent their further deterioration.

Buy a map from TasMap

​The Lisdillon Saltworks lies on the East Coast of Tasmania, near the mouth of the Little Swanport River. They are situated on Saltworks Road which joins the Tasman Highway (A3) between Boomer Creek (to the south) and Lisdillon Rivulet (to the north), approximately 24 km south of Swansea. About 1.5km along Saltworks Road there is an access road on the left hand side which runs to the salt works site car park.​​

Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

​Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our know before you go section.