Like most of the west coast, Rosebery is a mining town. In the 1890s, gold, lead, zinc and copper were all discovered in the area. It is situated at the northern end of the West Coast Range, in the shadow of Mount Black and adjacent to the Pieman River now Lake Pieman.

Rosebery was named after Tom McDonald's company, the Rosebery Gold Mining Company (in turn it was named after Lord Rosebery who was Prime Minister of Britain at the time), which began to work Mount Black almost immediately.

McDonald found gold in 1893. Zinc and lead were found in 1894 and by 1897 copper was being mined at Primrose.

By 1899 the privately owned Emu Bay Railway (out of Burnie on the north coast) had reached Rosebery and greatly assisted the local economy by providing access and a good transportation route.

In 1927 the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company revived the mines, and today the mines are still running (owned and operated by Minerals and Metals Group).

Prior to the construction of the Murchison Highway in the 1960s, the town connected with Burnie and North West Tasmania via the Emu Bay Railway.

Just 10 minutes from town is the start of the track to Tasmania’s highest waterfall – Montezuma Falls. You can walk in following the old tram route (an easy three hours return) or go in comfort on a four-wheel drive tour.

Fishing tours depart from Rosebery; nearby Lake Rosebery, Lake MacKintosh and Lake Murchison all provide good trout fishing.