The little town of Stanley (pop. 600) was founded in 1826. The town was the headquarters of the Van Diemen's Land Company, set up with the object of clearing land and rearing merino sheep. During the gold rush in the newly-formed state of Victoria, Stanley became an important port to which ships brought supplies for the prospectors. Today Stanley is home to a sizeable fishing fleet, shrimps and sharks being among the main catches.
Because of its well-maintained buildings Stanley is under the protection of the National Trust.
The town's emblem is 'The Nut', a massive volcanic hill standing 135m high.
The softer material was eroded away long ago. Matthew Flinders, who viewed it in 1798, was reminded of a Christmas cake. There is a chairlift to the top.
At the foot of the hill stands Pets' Cottage, once the residence of the architect John Lee Archer, who designed what are probably the most beautiful of Tasmania's older buildings. However, the town's most famous son is Joseph A Lyons, who was prime minister of Australia from 1932 to 1939. The house in which he was born stands in Alexander Terrace. Around the old landing stages where whalers and sailing ships once berthed are grouped a number of attractive old buildings, including a massive grain store and the old customs house. The very popular Union Hotel on Church Street, with its vaulted cellars and narrow staircases, was built in 1847 and has since been restored. The Plough Inn on the same street has also been restored and is furnished in 19th C style. Also worth a visit is the Discovery Centre, with displays of folk art and a shell collection (open daily).
On the outskirts of the town lies Highfield, an estate with a period house, remains of a chapel and various outbuildings including farm cottages, stables and barns. The Van Diemen's Land Company representative lived here in the 19th C.
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