Railton, Tasmania
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Railton
| state = tas
| image = Railton Topiary Soldiers.jpg
| caption = Topiary in Railton
| coordinates = {{coord|41|21|S|146|25|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pop = 997
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| elevation= 65
| elevation_footnotes=
| maxtemp =
| mintemp =
| rainfall =
| est =
| lga = Kentish Council
| stategov = Lyons
| fedgov = Lyons
| dist1 = 186
| dir1 = NW
| location1= Hobart
| dist2 = 58
| dir2 = W
| location2= Launceston
| dist3 = 19
| dir3 = S
| location3= Devonport
}}
Railton is a town situated 20 km inland from Devonport on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia's island state. In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Railton had a population of 997.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC65986 |name=Railton (State Suburb)|accessdate=22 July 2017|quick=on}}
The locality is in the Kentish Council area, but with about 1% in the Latrobe LGA.
History
Railton was first surveyed in 1853 and a railway line through the town from Deloraine to Latrobe was completed in 1885. Early settlers who were mainly farmers and timber workers lived in slab huts. The new settlers quickly drove out the traditional owners of the area. The wider main street was built for the drovers mustering cattle to the railway station to be loaded for export. By the 1900s Railton had a flourishing timber trade with 2 sawmills.
Railton has several topiaries in various locations around the town. Visit the "Town of Topiary" website for information on how to find them.{{Cite web |url=http://www.townoftopiary.com.au/ |title=Railton, Town of Topiary | Discover the magic of topiary at Railton, Tasmania's "Town of Topiary" |access-date=16 January 2010 |archive-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125084957/http://www.townoftopiary.com.au/ |url-status=dead }}
Railton promotes itself as the "Town of Topiary".[http://www.kentish.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=293 Railton], Kentish Council
Railton is home to a Cement Australia plant which began operations in 1923.[http://www.cemaust.com.au/driver.asp?page=main/operations/manufacturing%20operations/railton,%20tasmania Manufacturing Operations – Railton, Tasmania], Cement Australia It was previously known as Goliath Cement.[http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/G/Goliath%20Cement.htm Goliath Cement], The Companian to Tasmanian History[https://web.archive.org/web/20080524035450/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/22/2252545.htm Railton cement works in asbestos study], ABC News, 22 May 2008.
Facilities
Railton is very popular for mountain bike riding with many tracks around the entire area, a playground park with bbq areas, squash courts, lawn bowls, a neighbourhood centre, a caravan park, public toilets, a town hall and a primary school.
Railton Primary School is a campus of Sheffield School. (years P-4).
Sykes Sanctuary
Sykes Sanctuary is {{convert|40|acre|m2}} of bush land bequeathed by Norman Sykes to the Railton community with the instruction that it be conserved as a bird and fauna sanctuary. Sykes was an eccentric conservationist who gave up city life to live in a small shack, close to nature.[http://www.sheffieldcradleinfo.com.au/pages/sykes-sanctuary/ Sykes Sanctuary], Kentish Visitor Information Centre