Huon Valley

Huon
Valley
Huon River in summer, located on the valley floor.
Name origin: Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec
Nickname: The Huon
Country	Australia
State	Tasmania
Region	Southern Tasmania
Local government area	Huon Valley Council
City	Huonville, Southport
River	Huon River
Coordinates	43°07′S 146°26′E / 43.12°S 146.43°E / -43.12; 146.43Coordinates: 43°07′S 146°26′E / 43.12°S 146.43°E / -43.12; 146.43
Area	5,500 km2 (2,124 sq mi)
Location of the Huon Valley in Tasmania

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 is Huonville, with other smaller towns 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.

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.

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 is home to many 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.

The area was first settled in the early 1840s. In 1843 Thomas Judd planted the first apple trees, founding the industry that made the Huon famous. He was followed by Silas Parsons, founder of Grove and then Wm. Barnett, Wm. Cuthbert and then William Geeves, namesake of Geeveston.