Located in Tasmania’s remote south-west, Adamsfield was once a thriving mining community with a population of over 1 000 people. They mined for osmiridium, a naturally occurring alloy that was used in the manufacturing, dental and medical industries. Much later, this corrosive-resistant alloy was used in electronics.
The last production recorded from Adamsfield was in 1968. Since this time the abandoned mining tools and relics of past exploration are slowly being reclaimed by the bush. Little evidence of the bustling township remains, but worker’s huts, a laboriously cut water race and the open cut mine still tell the story of the hard working lives of Adamsfield miners.
Today, Adamsfield is a remote destination for bushwalking, mountain biking and 4WD enthusiasts. The Adamsfield Conservation Area is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA).