The area developed as a holiday area , especially the suburbs of Kingston Beach and Blackmans Bay . Margate and Kettering operated fishing fleets and Taroona created had a manufacturing industry , primarily through Taroona Shot Tower . Sandfly became a center for small fruits and apple orcharding . The decline of the apple industry progresses during the 1960s , but the industry collapsed entirely following the 1967 Tasmanian fires , when much of the municipality was devastated and most orchards burnt down . A memorial to the 62 fatalities of the fire was constructed in Snug following the fire , where 80 of the towns 120 buildings burned and a permanent exhibition is present at the Channel Heritage Center
1967 Tasmanian fires
1967 Tasmanian fires
Kingborough Council