[1] Originally developed as a port of access for the mining settlements in the area, the town was known as Long Bay or Regatta Point.

[9] Historically Strahan has been a port to a small fishing fleet that braves the west coast conditions and Hell's Gates.

It is the nearest inhabited locality to Cape Sorell and is literally the 'gateway' to the south-west wilderness - as boats, planes and helicopters utilise Strahan as their base when travelling into the region.

Strahan is an access point to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, which was declared part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in 1982.

[11] The railway was government owned, and ran past the wharf at Strahan, and continued southwards around the harbour before running north on its way to Zeehan.

Lying on Tasmania's West Coast, Strahan is frequently buffeted by low pressure systems off the Southern Ocean, causing heavy rain and gusty winds.