Montezuma Falls

Montezuma Falls
Montezuma Falls
Location	West Coast Range, Tasmania, Australia
Coordinates	41°49′48″S 145°28′12″E / 41.83000°S 145.47000°ECoordinates: 41°49′48″S 145°28′12″E / 41.83000°S 145.47000°E[1]
Type	Tiered
Elevation	449 metres (1,473 ft)[2] AHD
Total height	103–110 m (338–361 ft)[3][4]
Number of drops	2
Watercourse	A tributary to the Pieman River

The Montezuma Falls (formerly Osbourne Falls), a horsetail waterfall on a minor tributary to the Pieman River, is located on the West Coast Range of Tasmania, Australia.

Naming

The falls draws its name from Montezuma (1466-1520), an Aztec emperor of Mexico. A mining company called the Montezuma Silver Mining Company, formed in 1891, held leases in the area surrounding the falls.^[5]

Location and features

The Montezuma Falls are situated north-east of Zeehan, near the village of Rosebery, accessible via the Murchison Highway. The falls commence at an elevation of 449 metres (1,473 ft) above sea level and descend in the range of 103–110 metres (338–361 ft),^[2][3] making the falls one of the highest in Tasmania.^[4]

The 8-kilometre (5.0 mi) three-hour return walking track from the trackhead at the foot of Mount Read near Williamsford.^[6]

Railway

The track follows much of the route of the former 2-foot (61 cm) narrow gauge North East Dundas Tramway and earlier views of the falls include the passing railway line ^{[7][8][9][10]}

The proximity of the line to the falls was described in 1926:

This little railway is a "show" line of the highest order, for it dives quickly amongst the mountains, brushing the fringe of immense forests, and at one point giving a near view, of the hand- some Montezuma Falls-so near that the spray actually dashes at times against the carriage win- dows. From Williamsford one can take a motor for the five miles to Rosebery

^[11]

The railway alignment, after closing of the operation was used for trips to view the falls ^[12][13]

See also

• List of waterfalls of Tasmania

References

1. "Montezuma Falls (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
2. "Map of Montezuma Falls, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
3. "Montezuma Falls". World Waterfall Database. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
4. "Montezuma Falls Area, Roseberry, TAS, Australia". Australian Heritage Database: Register of the National Estate. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
5. "Montezuma Falls". Parks & Wildlife Service. Government of Tasmania. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
6. "Montezuma Falls". World of Waterfalls. Johnny T. Cheng. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
7. Beattie, J. W. (John Watt) (1890), The Montezuma Falls and North East Dundas Railway, Tasmania, ca. 1890, retrieved 1 June 2014
8. Newey, John A., (compiler.) (1906), Montezuma Falls. N. E. Dundas Rly Tas, retrieved 1 June 2014
9. Beattie, J. W. (John Watt), 1859-1930, (slide maker.) (1900), Montezuma Falls, Dundas, retrieved 1 June 2014
10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an21697618-315
11. "THE WILD WEST OF TASMANIA.". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 9 September 1926. p. 22. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
12. "A Trip to Montezuma Falls.". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 5 January 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
13. Photograph – Lindsay Whitham standing on old abutment of the trestle bridge which spanned the river below the Montezuma Falls, LINC Tasmania, retrieved 1 June 2014

Additional reading

• Binks, C.J. (1980). Explorers of Western Tasmania. Launceston: Mary Fisher Bookshop,. ISBN 0-908291-16-7.
• Blainey, Geoffrey (2000). The Peaks of Lyell (6th ed.). Hobart: St. David's Park Publishing. ISBN 0-7246-2265-9.
• Whitham, Charles. Western Tasmania – A land of riches and beauty.