Launceston
Founded in 1806, Launceston is the Australia's
third-oldest city, with a fascinating history traced in its beautiful
old buildings and streetscapes dating from early Colonial and convict
times to Georgian and Victorian eras.
Its many well-preserved Victorian and Georgian
buildings, together with its diverse collection of art-deco
architecture, give the city an unusual period ambience.
The architecture of the mid-to-late 20th century,
that dominates most large modern cities and many smaller ones, is quite
rare and a walk around the city leaves one with the feeling of being
wrapped in a timeless cocoon of yesteryear.
Greater Launceston has a population of 106,153
(2011 census) and the charm and pace of a regional centre, with the
facilities of a much larger city.
Launceston offers a great variety of things to see and do and I have offered just a few here to get you started.
The Cataract Gorge and Cliff Grounds
The Cataract Gorge Reserve covers 192 hectares
and is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that live in the
bushland and waterways and make up this a magnificent treat for locals
and tourists alike.
It has numerous walking trails with lookouts, as
well as the world's longest single span chairlift, a suspension bridge,
an open air swimming pool, a children's playground, free barbecues and
picnic lawns, the Gorge Restaurant and Basin Café (which serve the
finest Tasmanian produce and have magnificent views of the Reserve).
In the Cliff Grounds there's a band rotunda with
historical information, exotic deciduous trees, azaleas and
rhododendrons and peacocks strutting about the graceful Victorian
gardens among towering conifers.
The gardens were designed in the style popular in Victorian England at the time.
It is also a collector’s garden, with trees and
other plants from all over the world planted there, as the European
settlers still had nostalgic yearnings for the gardens of their homeland
and is the reason why, in the 1890’s, they tried to recreate the places
that were familiar to them, including the decorative peacocks that were
introduced and that still roam the grounds along with the native
wallabies that can be seen grazing on the lawns alongside them.
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Franklin House
Franklin House, constructed of Australian cedar, was built in
1838 for Britton Jones, a Launceston brewer and innkeeper and is
maintained and operated by Australia's National Trust.
Franklin House is open to visitors between 9am – 4pm Mon – Sat
(April to Sept), 9am-5pm (Oct to Mar), Sunday Noon – 4pm and is closed
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day & Good Friday.
Ritchie's Mill
Paterson Street, Launceston - at the head of the Tamar River.
 |
| Jetty at the mill, looking north up the Tamar River |
Mr. George Yates bought a share of the water mill in 1845 for 4400 pounds.
In 1847 Mr. Yates offered his Supply Mills, on the Supply
River, for lease and it was taken up by my great-great-grandfather,
James Cartledge and his brother, John.
A little later in this blog we will be visiting the heritage listed, Supply River mill site, further up the Tamar.
Water tanker
While the milling operation seems to have been a little less
than profitable for Mr. Yates, it was the income from the water supply,
estimated to exceed 1500 pounds per annum, that was ‘The El Dorado of
Launceston’.
The Cartledge brothers grabbed a piece of the action,
purchasing water from the mill-race and on-selling it, from a tanker, to
the ships in the harbour.
Head of the Tamar from Ritchies Mill - photo: Robin Cartledge
An advert in the Launceston Examiner, Wednesday, 24th November, 1847, reads:
"J and J. Cartledge respectfully inform masters and owners
of vessels that they have purchased the Union Water Tanks, by which the
shipping are supplied with pure unadulterated Cataract water at the very
lowest possible price.
They also respectfully inform masters and mates of vessels
that the Union is the only water tank supplying shipping that can get
pure cataract water, as all others are compelled to procure a supply
from the river in the immediate vicinity of the filth and dirt from the
sewers and cesspools of the town, or where the public are accustomed to
bathe."
Carters paid the mill sixpence a cask and by the time it
reached residents it ranged from eighteen pence to three shillings
(thirty-six pence).
More Things to See
- Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Museum: 2 Invermay Road, Launceston
Art Gallery: 2 Wellington Street, Launceston
Established in 1891, it is now the largest museum located outside a capital city in Australia.
The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is located at two
sites across the city:
The original purpose built building at Royal Park
and another at the Inveresk Cultural Precinct, on the grounds of the
former railway station and rail yards in buildings largely converted
from the former Railway Workshops.
The precinct also includes the Launceston Tramway Museum,
which houses the No. 29 tram, the 'Mary St' shelter shed and a host of
other memorabilia.
The state's largest preservation railway, the Don River Railway, also has a carriage rebuilding workshop on the site.
- City Park
Main entrance: Tamar Street or corner of Cimitiere and Lawrence Streets
Grab yourself a picnic lunch and spend an hour or so exploring this beautiful parkland that features mature trees and shrubs, a display of annual flowers, a Japanese Macaque monkey enclosure, the John Hart Conservatory, a duck pond, senses garden, monuments, chess board, historic Albert Hall, barbeque area and a children's playground.
City Park, originally developed by the Launceston Horticultural Society and handed over to the Launceston City Council in 1863, was once called the 'People's Park', which reflects how the park has been viewed by the people of Launceston since its beginnings.
On the 14th October 1804, Lt Gov. Paterson embarked for Van Diemen's Land on the Buffalo at Sydney Town and with a party of soldiers proceeded to his command of the intended establishment at Port Dalrymple.
First settlement
The first encampment was at Outer Cove (now
George Town), but the lack of fresh water, exposure to the wind and
infertile land persuaded Paterson to move the settlement to York Town,
upstream on the western bank of the Tamar in early 1805.
Here fresh water seemed to be in abundance, and the land well suited to both cultivation and grazing.
Winter proved this spot to be less than ideal and
in spring the farms and gardens of the inhabitants flooded, and many of
the Bengali cattle, transported from a warmer climate, died of
exposure.
Settlement was moved to Launceston
It was for this reason that towards the end of
1805 the settlement was moved to Launceston, which was selected for its
sheltered position, abundant green pasture (comparing favourably with
the Hawkesbury), and the sparseness of its lofty trees.
The matter did not rest here, because Governor
Macquarie, during his term in office between 1810 and 1821, decided that
the settlement should after all be situated at George Town where it was
more accessible.
This indecision retarded Launceston's growth until the 1820s.
Initially the settlement was called Patersonia
after commandant of the British garrison Lt. Col. William Paterson, who
later served as Lieutenant-Governor of northern Van Diemen's Land from
1804 to 1808.
He later changed the name to Launceston in honour
of the New South Wales Governor Captain Philip Gidley King, who was
born in Launceston, Cornwall.
A description of Launceston c 1852
Drawn from The History of Tasmania - Volume II (of 2) by John West.
Launceston [is] in the parish of Launceston and
county of Cornwall, is the second town of the colony, and is in Lat.
41°. 24'. S., and lon. 147°. 10'. E.
It stands at the confluence of the North and South Esk rivers, which here discharge their waters into the Tamar.
It is 121 miles (195 km) from Hobart, and 40 miles (64 km) from the sea at Port Dalrymple.
On the east and west it is bounded by hills, and on the north stretches the valley of the Tamar.
The town is well laid out, and viewed from the hills which
overlook it, or from the Tamar, it has a picturesque appearance.
The wharves, which afford accommodation to vessels of large
tonnage, extend along the river which forms the northern boundary.
Farther up are numerous spacious stores and other commercial buildings.
There are two large episcopalian churches, a handsome
presbyterian church, a Roman catholic church (all built in the Gothic
style), a Wesleyan chapel, two congregational chapels, a free church, a
baptist chapel, and a synagogue, all neat and commodious buildings.
The court house, the gaol, the house of correction, female
factory, and several other government establishments, are large and
well-built.
Many of the shops, offices, inns, and private buildings are of considerable size and respectable appearance.
On the hill which bounds the town on the eastern side, and
commands a splendid view of the town and river, are many private
residences and gardens.
There are four banks, four insurance offices, three printing establishments, and two bi-weekly newspapers.
The principal public offices are the police office, the custom-house, the post office, and the port office.
The population of the town is 10,855, the number of houses, 2,181; 798 of which are of stone or brick.
There are an episcopal grammar school, a Wesleyan day school, an
infant school, three episcopal day schools, a catholic school, seven
Sunday schools, and numerous private schools.
The public institutions, besides the banks and insurance
offices, are a mechanics' institute and reading room, a library society,
several circulating libraries, two horticultural societies, a
benevolent society, auxiliary bible society, two masonic lodges, odd
fellows society, rechabite society, and a teetotal society.
There are 70 vessels belonging to the port, their collective tonnage being 8,564 tons.
There is also a floating dock.
Richard Dry, Esq., the hon. the speaker of the Legislative
Council, is the first member for the electoral district of Launceston.
Launceston Travel and Information Centre
68-72 Cameron Street, Launceston, Tasmania
Open: Weekdays 9.00am to 5.00pm - Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm - Sunday and Public Holidays 9.00am to 1.00pm
Free call: 1800 651 827
BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park
86-94 Glen Dhu St, Launceston, Tasmania
(03) 6344-2600
Coordinates: -41.457262, 147.142167
Website
BIG4 Launceston Holiday park is a 16 acre elevated city retreat boasting the most stunning views of the Launceston city and Tamar valley.
Guests have the luxury of being walking distance to the CBD and beautiful Cataract Gorge (2km) making us the perfect base to explore the north.
All the essentials for an urban escape are here, FREE Wi-Fi, children’s playground and jumping pillow, brand new amenity facilities and varied accommodation options from powered/unpowered sites, cabins to suit budget conscious families to brand new two bedroom villas to accommodate travelling couples and larger families.
Old Mac's Caravan & Motorhome Farm Stay
55 Sandown Rd, Norwood, Launceston, Tasmania
0408 443 696
Coordinates: -41.448415, 147.180278
Hadspen Discovery Parks
Cnr Main St & Meander Valley Hwy, Hadspen, Tasmania
(03) 6393-6391
Coordinates: -41.504121, 147.069866
Website
Fifteen minutes from the beautiful city of Launceston is Discovery Parks – Hadspen, a must on your Tassie touring itinerary.
The peaceful South Esk River is a short stroll away from our caravan park and wineries, national parks, and family attractions are close at hand. Before soaking up some culture at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, visit the stunning Cataract Gorge, beautiful gardens and resident peacocks in Launceston. Explore Narawntapu and Mt William National Parks, take a Tamar River Cruise, and taste your way through Tasmania’s oldest wine region, the Tamar Valley.
Launceston Holiday Park, Legana
711 West Tamar Hwy, Launceston
(03) 6330-1714
www.launcestonholidaypark.com.au
Coordinates: -41.374053, 147.050607
At Launceston Holiday Park Legana, we have a number of accommodation types to suit your budget, ranging from powered caravan/camper sites right up to deluxe spa cabins. For those preferring to travel light, we have an unpowered grassed area for pitching a tent, and powered caravan sites are also available for tents if power is required.
RV Dump Points
BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park
94 Glen Dhu Street, Launceston.
Free for Registered Guests or fee for dump point use only.
St Leonards Park Public Dump Point
Station Rd, St Leonards,
Coordinates: -41.462605, 147.193084
Doctor/Medical Centre
external link, above, contains a list of doctors and
medical centres in and around Launceston, including address, phone,
opening hours and map
Police
90 Cameron Street, Launceston - non-emergency Ph. 131 444
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