The Road Less Travelled...

Why Hellyers Road?

In 1825, Henry Hellyer was one of the first European explorers to set foot in the rugged interior of north west Tasmania as chief surveyor of the Van Dieman's Land Company. Hellyer had nothing more than a bullock gang and the most basic of tools to carve a dirt road into the ferocious wilderness.

Henry Hellyer's tenacity and vision proved inspirational and changed people's lives.
Almost 200 years later, his road now guides the way to the Hellyers Road Distillery.

Here our exceptional whisky has also come from perseverance, determination and dedication. We've been inspired by Henry's spirit to create a product that captures the very taste and character of Tasmania.

Henry's Life & Legacy

Henry Hellyer was that rare breed of person with a thirst for discovery. He was an explorer.

Born in Hampshire, England in 1790, Hellyer worked as an architect and surveyor journeying to Australia in 1825 where, in just seven years, he changed the landscape and the lives of many people.

When the Van Dieman's land Company was formed he was one of the first to sign on, utilising his skills to transform the land of north west Tasmania. He named Valentine's Peak. He designed the now-historic "Highfield House" in Stanley (Henry Hellyer's final resting place is also in Stanley, at the Old Cemetery). And, most importantly for us, he made a road.

Hellyer wanted to link the remote inland settlements with the growing coastal town of Emu Bay, known today as Burnie. Local legend has it that with little more than a bullock gang and crude hand tools he carved his way through the dense forest into the wild hills. The road was a success and subsequently named after him.

Today we know it as Old Surrey Road, but deep down we'll always think of it as Hellyers Road. The making of that road showed characteristics of Henry Hellyer that we still celebrate - vision, determination, courage and tenacity. Biographers describe Hellyer as tall and thin and someone who viewed the world with an 'artistic' eye. We've been inspired by Henry to create a product that echoes his very qualities.

Henry's life was his work - a life we think is worth celebrating.