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In 1825
the Van Dieman’s Land Company was granted a charter to cultivate lands
and to rear well-bred flocks of sheep. The company’s headquarters,
‘Highfields’ at Stanley, was completed in 1835 and today is open for
inspection. The company still has the property ‘Woolnorth’ near cape
Grim on the north-western tip of Tasmania. Many of the Highfield
buildings may still be seen by taking a drive of 6 km around Green
Hills.There are also a number of other old buildings, some of which
are restored, that are open for inspection. The former Prime Minister of
Australia, the late Joseph Lyons, was born in a cottage near the Bay
View Hotel. The former school house has been restored by the National
Trust.
The most prominent feature in Stanley is a rock outcrop 150
metres high known as the ‘Nut’, but named ‘Circular Head’ by Bass and
Flinders. It was previously recognised by the local Aboriginal people as
the ‘Moo-Nut-Re-Ker’. An old cemetery situated located at the foot of the Nut is the
resting place for many well known pioneers and include names such as
Henry Hellyer (noted explorer and surveyor), and John Lee Archer (famous
architect and magistrate). Magnificent views are had from the top of the
Nut, access is either by a steep path climb or the chairlift.
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