Photo: Sara Headlam

History of Coles Bay

The Freycinet area was first inhabited by the Toorern-o-marie-mener band being part of the Oyster Bay Tribe of aborigines, no doubt attracted to the area due to the warm climate and plentiful seafood and wildlife as a food source. The first European sighting of Freycinet was by Abel Tasman in 1642 and named Schouten Island. In the 1820's whaling operations commenced from the Fisheries, Wineglass Bay and Schouten Island. Whaling ceased only after 20 years as the stocks were so depleted it was no longer viable.

The Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island were declared game reserves in 1906 to arrest the over hunting of wildlife and in 1916 Freycinet was proclaimed as a national park being the first national park in Tasmania along with Mt Field. Further additions to the national park came in 1967 when Schouten Island was included. Friendly Beaches was included into the park in the late 1990's.

Coles Bay continued to grow as a place where holiday makers visit and stay for both short and long periods of time.

In 1934 the Chateau was built by Ron Richardson and made for an exclusive getaway for locals, interstate and international visitors alike. The Chateau was purchased during the early 1990's and redeveloped into the now Freycinet Lodge.

In the 1980's the road into Coles Bay from the Tasman Highway was sealed, removing the long dusty bumpy and often very dangerous drive to Coles Bay. This resulted in Coles Bay being far more accessible and the township continued to boom. From then to current times the price of real estate in the area has skyrocketed and continues to do so.