Forest, Tasmania

Forest is a locality and small rural community in the local government area of Circular Head, in the North West region of Tasmania. It is located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of the town of Smithton. The Bass Highway follows the north-western boundary from north-east to south-west. The Black River forms the south-eastern boundary.^[1] The 2021 census determined a population of 464 for the state suburb of Forest.^[2]

Forest Tasmania
Forest
Coordinates	40°50′58″S 145°13′55″E
Population	464 (2021)
Postcode(s)	7330
Location	11 km (7 mi) E of Smithton
LGA(s)	Circular Head
Region	North West Tasmania
State electorate(s)	Braddon
Federal division(s)	Braddon
Localities around Forest: Smithton Stanley Bass Strait Smithton Forest Wiltshire Irishtown Mengha Mawbanna

History

The locality may have originally been known as Myrtle Forest. It was gazetted as Forest in 1973.^[3]

Road infrastructure

The C221 route (Back Line Road) terminates at the Bass Highway at the Forest/Smithton midpoint. It runs east and then north through the locality before rejoining the Bass Highway in Wiltshire. The B21 (Stanley Highway) and C219 (Mengha Road) routes each terminate at the Bass Highway at the Wiltshire / Forest / Stanley tripoint. B21 runs north to Stanley, while C219 runs south through Forest to Mengha, from where it provides access to many localities on the west coast of Tasmania.^[4]