Our aim is to provide leadership, services and support which contribute to the wellbeing and sustainability of the Furneaux community and its environment.

Municipality

Municipality

The Flinders municipality covers 4 groups of Bass Strait islands off the north-eastern tip of Tasmania: the Furneaux, Kent, Hogan and Curtis Groups.

Of the more than 60 islands, only three have permanent residents. Flinders, Cape Barren and Clarke, with Flinders Island having the largest population.

Flinders Island has four main population centres:

  • Whitemark
  • Lady Barron
  • Emita
  • Killiecrankie

Whitemark is the main residential and business centre, and the all-tides port at Lady Barron is the berthing point for the trading vessels. Flinders Island is serviced with a weekly sail between Bridport and Lady Barron, monthly to Cape Barren Island and on demand (approx monthly) from Welshpool, Victoria.

There are daily flights between Launceston and Whitemark and four flights a week between Essendon and Whitemark. The region is also serviced by a number of charter aircraft. These carry passengers or freight on demand.

Flinders Island has a thriving rural community that produces sheep and wool, cattle, lamb, crayfish, abalone, wine and wallaby. Aquaculture is seen as one of the possible future directions for the region and expansion of the industry is currently being investigated. Other main business activities include rural support industries and tourism.

The islands lie scattered around latitude 400 south and are home to a very diverse wildlife with over 120 species of bird on Flinders Island including many visiting migratory, Northern Hemisphere species. There are no rabbits or foxes in this region other than rabbits on some of the outer islands, and it is illegal to bring them to this region.

Flinders is a long, narrow island, 75 km long and 40 km wide, with the Darling Ranges running down the middle of the island. The total land area of Flinders Island is 1,333 sq km.

Flinders has 73 km of sealed roads, 309 km of gravel roads and is serviced by a licensed aerodrome with sealed runway at Whitemark.

Flinders Council offers the following services:

  • Economic Development
  • Works & Services
  • Building & Planning
  • Youth Affairs
  • Environmental Health
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Aerodrome
  • Visitor Information Centre