At this time, the settlement was known as "Willis' Corner", or by the more contemporary and colloquially known "Humphrey’s Waterhole", until Smith was asked to establish an inn in 1850 to provide overnight hospitality to travellers on coach routes between Hobart and Launceston.

This name would be recognised in part by the inn, but also that Conara was an important junction for the coach and rail networks in Tasmania.

[3] The town's post office, known as "Corners PO", opened on 12 August 1862, and was renamed to Conara Junction on 14 October 1887.

[4] The original name of "The Corners" remained with the adjoining land until 1958 when then owner, Graeme Taylor, sold his 400 acres (less the separate title for the old Inn), to Alan McKinnon who absorbed it into his property Glen Esk on the banks of the South Esk River near Epping Forest.

[4] Today, with the heyday all but over, Conara still remains an important siding for trains, albeit diminished, as well as a destination between the two main cities.

The South Esk River flows through from east to west before forming a small part of the western boundary.