Huon Valley

The Huon Valley, or simply the Huon is a valley and geographic area located in southern Tasmania, Australia. It roughly corresponds to the Huon Valley Council local government area, yet predates that entity. The largest town Huonville, with other smaller towns are spread across the area. It includes Australia's most southern permanent settlement at Southport. The Huon Valley Council area had a population of 15,140 in 2011. Famed for its apple growing, the Valley was first settled by British colonists in the 1840s; prior to settlement the Huon Valley area was inhabited by the Nuenonne people.

The area it is sometimes combined as the Huon-Channel area with the areas around D'Entrecasteaux Channel.

Etymology

The Huon Valley, along with its local government authority, several towns, the Huon River and the Huon Pine were named after Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec.

Economy

The Huon is both a major horticultural area, particularly famous for growing apples (83% of Tasmanian apples originate in the Valley), but also producing cherries, berries and stone fruit and a suburban locality for commuter workers who work in Hobart or Kingston and prefer to live in a more rural setting. It is also a major source of seafood; the Valley hosts the headquarters of Huon Aquaculture and the major processing plants for Tassal. The largest employers are agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, followed by out of Valley work; Tourism is a growing industry in the Huon Valley, and the valley attracts around 25% of Tasmania's tourist visitors.