West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said Zeehan’s Frank Long Memorial had been given a $5000 facelift to improve the important heritage site.

“The memorial is about 30 years old and recognises the discovery of silver lead by Frank Long in 1882,” Mayor Vickers said.

“The township of Zeehan was created as a result of this find and as a result reached a population of 10,000 people in the early 1900s.

“At the time Zeehan was Tasmania’s largest town after Hobart and Launceston.”

Mayor Vickers said unfortunately the site had been neglected for some time, with Council allocating $5000 in the 2017/18 Annual Plan and Budget.

“West Coast Heritage Centre matched this funding and entered into a partnership with Council to have the site cleaned up and the refurbishment of the miners’ camp,” Mayor Vickers said.

Mayor Vickers, who is the director of West Coast Heritage Limited, said the organisation was looking forward to a continued partnership with Council.

“There are more plans to install mining equipment and interpretative signage in the area,” Mayor Vickers said.

“And consider the site is also under consideration to be part of the mountain bike hub, there is plenty of potential for it to become a tourism drawcard.”