It is located along the eastern edge of Tasmania, from Seymour in the north, to Pontypool in the south.

It also includes the area around Great Oyster Bay, the Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island.

The LGA of Glamorgan Spring Bay Council is in a similar region.

On 15 January 1836 George Arthur, the Lieutenant Governor of the Island of Van Diemen's Land proclaimed, via The Hobart Town Courier, the first counties and parishes to be surveyed in the colony.

This county to include all islands on the east coast thereof, and the Schoutens and all islands in Oyster bay not lying further southward than the Schoutens.