The Tasmanian Mountain Cattlemen’s Association (TMCA) was formed in 1986 by representatives of the families who have links with the Mersey high country. The high country is the area near the source of the Mersey River in Northern Tasmania, and is situated along the mid-north boundary of the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.

Since 1888, the area has traditionally been used as summer grazing runs by families who would drive their cattle and sheep to the mountain pastures at the beginning of summer, and drive them back to their low land farms in autumn. Possums and wallabies were hunted by members of these families during the winter in an effort to add to their incomes.