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Koonya Tasmania | |||||||||||||||
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Coordinates | 43°06′S 147°45′E / 43.100°S 147.750°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 134 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 7184 | ||||||||||||||
Location | 18 km (11 mi) NE of Nubeena | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Tasman | ||||||||||||||
Region | South-east | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Lyons | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Lyons | ||||||||||||||
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Koonya is a rural locality in the local government area (LGA) of Tasman in the South-east LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 18 kilometres (11 mi) north-east of the town of Nubeena. The 2016 census has a population of 134 for the state suburb of Koonya.[1] It hosts the annual Koonya Garlic Festival, a "one-day celebration".[2]
The area was formerly known as Cascades, but had been changed by 1888. Koonya was gazetted as a locality in 1968. The name is believed to be an Aboriginal word, but the meaning is disputed.[3]
It was established in 1841 as one of outlying parts of the network of penal colony sites centered on Port Arthur.[4] Under its former name of "Cascades", it was populated by at least 400 convicts.[4]
After the Port Arthur penal colony was closed, and Van Diemen's Land was renamed "Tasmania", a number of places in Tasmania were renamed; "Cascades" was renamed "Koonya".[5]
The waters of Norfolk Bay form most of the northern boundary.[6]
A weather radar for the City of Hobart is in the Koonya locality.[7]
Route B37 (Nubeena Road) enters from the north-east and runs through to the north-west, where it exits. Route C343 (Nubeena Back Road) starts at an intersection with B37 and runs south-west until it exits.[3][8]