The name was given by Henry Hellyer during his intitial expolration ofthe area in 1827. The Melba rail line passes through from south to north-east. Stirling was an early name for the area, but the name Ridgley was settled on when Ridgley school was established in 1905.

The locality of Ridgley is adjoined to the north by West Mooreville and Mooreville, to the east by Stowport and East Ridgley, to the south by Highclere, and to the west by West Ridgley, all of which fall within the City of Burnie. The Pet River (including the Pet Reservoir) forms most of the south-eastern and eastern boundaries, and the Guide River forms the western boundary.

Pet Reservoir is a 4210 ML dam, was constructed in 1956 as Burnie's main water supply. Surrounded by gently sloping grassy banks with many sheltered shorelines the Pet is a quiet and peaceful desitination limited to foot access only. It is stocked with brown and rainbow trout; boating is prohibited therefore all shore-based angling methods are practised.

The narrow-gauge Melba railway line between Burnie and Melba Flats follows Old Surrey Road up through the Emu River valley and finally meets it at Ridgley. It was originally constructed as a private railway line by the Emu Bay Railway Company and was one of the longest-lasting and most successful private railway concerns in Australia. It previously ran through to Zeehan carrying minerals and passengers as an essential service for the West Coast community. The railway began in February 1878 as a 71 km horse-drawn wooden tramway opened from Emu Bay (Burnie) to Rouse’s Camp, near Waratah to serve the Mount Bischoff tin mines.


Ridgley railway siding

The name Ridgley was given by Henry Hellyer during his intitial expolration ofthe area in 1827. The community here grew to be the largest of any along the Old Surrey Road. It was originally known as Stirling, but Ridgley was settled on when Ridgley school was established in 1905. Today it is somewhat of a dormitary suburb of Burnie, perfectly suited to those who prefer a rural lifestyle but want to work in Burnie.




Guide Falls

Just outside of town is the turn-off to Guide Falls on the Guide River. Guide Falls Reserve is a popular picnic attraction with tables and bbq amenities located near the entrance of the reserve and further along the road at the top of the Guide Falls. From the lower picnic area it is an easy 5 minute walk to the bottom of the falls. It's an ideal setting to enjoy the peaceful sounds and gentle mist of water. There are relatively steep steps to the top of Guide Falls, where there is a viewing platform and the upper picnic area. A road which leads back down to the lower picnic area and entrance/exit.

The road between Guide Falls and Ridgley passes through some very pretty scenery - if you visit mid-morning on a clear day, the sun shining on the hillside and through the open stands of eucalypt plantations is a sight to behold.




Old Surry Road

Old Surry Road, which passes through Ridgley, was the first road built from the Bass Strait coast into the hinterland of Tasmania's North West after white settlers entered the region. Approval had been given in late 1827 for the establishment of a port at Emu Bay (Burnie) on the Van Diemen's Land company's 15,000 acre Emu Bay property which extended from Emu Bay to Cam River. In May 1827, Surveyor Henry Hellyer supervised the construction of a jetty, a store on Blackman’s Point near the jetty, a sawpit and a few huts. This was the beginning of Burnie.

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