Mt Field National Park was designated as a protected area in 1916, making it Tasmania’s oldest national park. It was here that the last Tasmanian Tiger was captured. This diverse habitat is also home to Tasmanian Devils and other endangered species.
Mount Field’s most famous feature, Russell Falls, was set aside for protection in 1885. Images of the falls were featured on postage stamps in 1889 to attract tourists to Australia’s growing colony. Over 100 years later little in the region has changed. It is easy to stand by the falls and imagine ourselves listening into the pre-colonial era. Meanwhile in other parts of Tasmania 447,000 hectares of temperate forest previously ruled as heritage-protected are now under threat from mining.

The sound of water flowing the forest gullies is a dominant feature of Mt. Field. With snow capping the mountain during the winter months there is a huge reservoir of water throughout the rest of the year. It is thanks to the foresight of those who protected the area over 100 years ago that its water still remains unimpeded and pure.

As we emerged from the forest rain was descending onto a nearby tin roof. Its sound accentuated the intimacy of the inside world. In this cool temperate region the rain drops fell with a different resonance, less solid than the tropical splashes back home.