Geeveston: Discover Wood Art and History

Get to know Geeveston through several stops, each offering a different perspective: hand-carved wooden figures along the main street, the Vin Smith Collection in the Town Hall and the Heritage Park. Wood art and the history of the regional timber industry shape part of the visit; at the park, there is also the chance to spot platypuses in the local creek.

Wooden Figures and Local Stories

The main street features a collection of hand-carved wooden statues of local personalities. Each figure has a plaque telling the personal story of the person depicted. This places woodworking and local biographies side by side: the statues can be read as individual portraits, not just as a group of carvings. This approach to the town’s history differs from the Vin Smith Collection, which documents the history and development of the regional timber industry in the Town Hall.

The Vin Smith Collection in the Town Hall

The Vin Smith Collection is displayed in the Atrium Gallery at Geeveston Town Hall and is open to the public free of charge. The gallery is divided in two: the collection is on one side, with an exhibition area on the other. The collection includes the two-thousand-year-old cross-section of a Huon pine tree. It also comprises artefacts, machinery and woodwork that document the history and development of the timber industry in the region. While the cross-section focuses on a single tree, the other exhibits turn attention to the regional industry and its development.

Art and Community Projects

The Artist-in-Residence program at Geeveston Town Hall Visitor Centre adds a community perspective to the works on display. Workshops, open studios and community projects encourage interaction between artists and the local community. Unlike the wooden statues and the Vin Smith Collection, the focus here is not solely on the finished work, but also on the exchange fostered by the program through these activities.

Locally made art, craft and produce are available for purchase at Geeveston Town Hall Visitor Centre. Passes for the Tahune Airwalk and other Tasmanian national parks can also be purchased there.

Heritage Park and the Cycleway

The Tasmanian Forest Workers Memorial is located in Heritage Park, right next to the town centre. There is also a chance to spot platypuses in the park’s local creek. The memorial and the creek represent two different aspects of the same place: remembering forest workers and the possibility of observing wildlife. Unlike the stops in the Town Hall, the park brings a place of remembrance together with the chance to observe animals.

The cycleway from Port Huon to Geeveston leads into the town and on to Heritage Park. If you include the route in your visit planning, it connects the town with the park in this order.

A Monthly Event at the Town Hall

Geeveston FEAST takes place at Geeveston Town Hall on the first Thursday of every month, from 5 pm to 8 pm. If you want to plan your stay around this event, check the event date before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Lebrina, White Beach, Ulverstone, Port Arthur, Dennes Point, Cygnet, Winkleigh, Gravelly Beach

For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.