Burnie (/ˈbɜːrni/ BER-nee;[3] pirinilaplu/palawa kani: pataway)[4][5] is a port city located on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Founded in 1827 as Emu Bay, the township was renamed in the early 1840s after William Burnie, a director of the Van Diemen's Land Company,[6] and proclaimed a city by Queen Elizabeth II on 26 April 1988.

The city is a key exporter of Tasmanian minerals, including copper, silver, gold, tin, lead, zinc, iron, tungsten, and ultra-high purity silica, alongside forestry products such as logs, pulpwood, and wood chips.

[11] From the 1990s, the city experienced significant industrial decline, with the closure of several manufacturing plants and the eventual shutdown of its pulp and paper mill.

The Marinus Link, a high-voltage direct current submarine power cable, is also planned to connect Tasmania’s renewable energy supply to mainland Australia, potentially generating 1,400 local jobs and bringing an estimated $3 billion in economic investment.

[14][15][16] Current proposals for the region include the Guildford and Hellyer Wind Farms, as well as Australia’s first synthetic electrofuel facility.

A year later, government surveyor John Helder Wedge recommended Emu Bay be reserved as an official township due to its strategic value for shipping.

[5][21] Alexander Goldie, the first superintendent of the Company's land assets around Emu Bay, led armed attacks against the Plairhekehillerplue clan.

In 1828, Goldie and his men massacred several people inland from the settlement and in August 1829 they murdered a native woman at Emu Bay by shooting her and cutting her neck with an axe.

[26] Throughout the 1840s, the VDL Company began leasing bush blocks to tenant farmers, although Burnie’s growth remained slow.

In 1843, the town was surveyed by Nathaniel Kentish and renamed after William Burnie, then serving as on of eighteen directors of the VDL Company.

[20] By 1853, Burnie had a population of approximately 200, with basic services such as a doctor and clergyman located in Port Sorell, and a lawyer and banker in Launceston.

The VDL Company later upgraded this tramway to iron and steam, facilitating the transport of tin from the Mount Bischoff mine, which commenced Burnie’s role as the west coast’s export gateway for minerals.

[30][31] During this time, Burnie’s business district rapidly grew, thanks to improved port facilities and the expansion of the town's infrastructure.

[36][37]Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, APPM expanded its workforce to around 3,500 employees,[38] while other secondary industries, including pigment producer Tioxide and North West Acid, were established.

In 2016, Elphinstone Group, previously a designer and manufacturer for Caterpillar equipment in Australia, relaunched its original brand and developed the Haulmax 3900 series off-highway haul truck.

[54][55] Today, Burnie positions itself as the gateway to Tasmania’s northwest, including the Tarkine forest, and as a hub for new industries and outdoor recreation.

[65] The majority of residents (84.4%) were born in Australia, with smaller populations from England (2.4%), New Zealand (0.9%), India (0.8%), Nepal and the Philippines (0.4%), and mainland China (0.3%).

[65] In terms of religion, 53.4% of Burnie's population reported no religious affiliation, while 38.8% identified with a Christian denomination, including 11.4% as Catholic and 11.2% as Anglican.

Nationally, Burnie is located in the federal electorate of Braddon, currently represented by Gavin Pearce of the Liberal Party of Australia.

[73][74] Historically, the port became the main hub for exporting minerals from Tasmania's west coast after the Emu Bay Railway opened in 1897, cementing Burnie’s status as an industrial centre.

The railway and the port served as the backbone of Burnie's early industry, driving the city’s growth and development.

The closure of the Burnie Paper Mill in 2010, after a failed attempt to secure a buyer, marked the end of an era for one of the city's most iconic industries.

[9] While heavy manufacturing and forestry continue to be significant, Burnie has sought to diversify its economy in recent years, exploring opportunities in renewable energy, tourism, and education.

This $3.5b (2021) project will connect Heybridge to Waratah Bay, Victoria via 255 kilometres (158 mi) of high voltage direct current submarine power cable, supplying renewable energy to the Australian mainland.

[78] Supporting infrastructure, including the North West Transmission Developments, will reinforce Burnie’s position as a renewable energy hub.

The project is expected to generate 1,400 local jobs and contribute $3b in direct economic investment while supplying enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes and significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Originally known as the Civic Centre, this multi-functional venue is an important space for the community, hosting performances, events, and exhibitions that attract visitors from across the region.

[85] In addition to these cultural landmarks, Burnie provides essential health services through the North West Regional Hospital, located on Brickport Road.

As the third-largest hospital in Tasmania, it offers a range of in-patient and out-patient services, including general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, psychiatry, and paediatrics, playing a vital role in the well-being of the wider community.