Railton

Railton is a small rural town in the Kentish local government area in north-west Tasmania, located between Devonport and Sheffield at the foot of Mount Roland. Known as the Town of Topiary, it is notable for more than 100 living topiaries displayed throughout its streets. Established as an agricultural and railway town in the 19th century, it is also home to the major Cement Australia plant.

Visitors can expect a quiet rural town centre with streets lined with creatively clipped living topiaries depicting people, animals and historical figures. The town has a main street with cafes, a hotel, small shops, Sykes Sanctuary park, and views to Mount Roland. Visitors can walk the self-guided topiary trail, visit Seven Sheds Brewery and Meadery, and use Railton as a base for exploring Kentish district countryside.

Railton was surveyed in the 1860s and developed following the extension of the railway line from Latrobe in the 1880s, supporting agriculture and timber industries. The Goliath Portland Cement Company established a cement works at Railton in 1923, now operated by Cement Australia, which became the town's major industry and employer.

Since 2001 Railton has been promoted as the 'Town of Topiary' through a community-driven project where volunteers create and maintain living topiaries throughout the town. The topiaries depict local characters, history and whimsical figures and represent a distinctive example of community art and rural town revitalisation in Tasmania.