The Society’s Aims

The Redwater Creek Steam and Heritage Society Inc formed in 1993 as a collection of like minded people – initially with a focus on constructing the Redwater Creek Railway but always aiming for the bigger picture of preserving our working industrial age heritage. Since 1993 the group has achieved many ambitious goals due to the voluntary input of members, friends and the community. A few members in particular have been the mainstay behind many of the developments on site.

Currently the primary aim of the Society is to develop the organization into a vibrant and enthusiastic group of people who are committed to undertaking developments which will see the site take the next step from being a volunteers’ hobby to becoming a tourist and community asset which delivers the following outcomes:-

  • A business under the incorporated association which gives tourists a quality thematic and memorable experience – one which has broad appeal to both young and old.
  • Maintenance of key equipment such as a chaff cutter, threshing drum, straw press, locomotives and rolling stock in operating condition for future generations to see working alongside the skills such as blacksmithing, fitting and machining etc. needed to maintain this equipment.
  • Attract more tourists to Sheffield and hold tourists in the area for a longer period of time.

These outcomes are beyond any individual but together as a community it is possible to achieve these broad aims.

Our secondary aims are to construct the infrastructure for the tourist attraction which will allow the fulfilment of the above aims, including :-

  1. a 4km steam operated railway from the museum site to the picturesque Redwater Creek caves, waterfalls and rainforest which follows the abandoned Roland Branch Line formation (now part of the Tasmanian Trail); This requires an enormous amount of preparation and another planning application and more importantly support from the surrounding landowners;
  2. a museum building housing the large collection of agriculural and steam era machinery with thematic interpretation to provide a quality tourist experience.
  3. a pioneer settlement presenting houses from the early settlers.
  4. a sustainable craft village which will support craft industries on the museum site eg. blacksmith, woodcrafts etc in a turn of the 19th century village;
  5. board walks around the Redwater Creek Caves and Waterfalls to protect the fragile rainforest environment;
  6. amenities at both the Sheffield and Redwater Creek ends of the railway.
  7. Further to this the Redwater Creek Railway has even greater potential to benefit tourism in Tasmania if it is extended 9km from the Redwater Creek caves and waterfalls to Railton. This construction plan is a long term aim of the society which may be a reality in 8 to 15 years time. It would allow connection of the Redwater Creek Railway and Sheffield to Devonport via the 3’ 6” gauge mainline in Railton. Attractions which would constitute stopping platforms on such a one hour journey from Sheffield to Railton include the Redwater Creek caves and waterfalls, the Stoodley forest walks amongst the experimental forestry plantations, the existing barbecue area at Stoodley and Sykes’s Sanctuary wildlife park near Railton.

With this level of development the society will undoubtedly have a world class attraction.

Chris Martin

President of the Redwater Creek Steam and Heritage Society Inc.