Visit Launceston Australia
Launceston: Historic Sites
York Town (49 km south east) is the site of the first attempt to establish a British presence in northern Tasmania. For a brief period between 1804 and 1808 Col. William Paterson and his party of settlers, soldiers and convicts created a small, bustling village and established farms and a government garden at York Town. They faced many difficulties stock losses, poor soil, food shortages and episodes of robbery, bushranging and piracy. Only two years after its settlement, it was clear that relocation would be necessary, and by 1811 York Town was virtually deserted.
Today, York Town is of national significance. Although all the original buildings have now gone, the landscape and natural setting remain largely unchanged. The site is interpretive and well worth a visit to learn about the town and how it operated. A diorama and findings from archaeological digs are on display 10 minutes away at the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre.
This convict built Georgian building was originally the Commissariat Store. In 1860, the Launceston Volunteers were formed. At times, their numbers were less than 25 but at their height reached 100 members. Their presence was particularly important after the withdrawal of British troops in 1870 and the scare of war with Russian in 1878. Launceston's 150-year-old 16th Field Artillery held its last ever parade at the Barracks on 24 November 2012.
Location: St John Street, LauncestonThe Esk Brewery was established in 1881, and was purchased in 1883 by James Boag and his son. According to the 1900 edition of the Cyclopedia of Tasmania, fame came quickly, their beer being generally admitted to be infinitely superior to anything produced in Australia (sic). After his father retired in 1887, James the younger managed the firm, and lived on the site. If you walk around the block you will see the old oast house, where the hops were dried, and many other buildings that date from this period. Brewery tours are available.
Location: William Street, Launceston
Completed in 1864 this beautiful wrought iron arch bridge with a span of 60 metres was designed by Engineer William Thoma Doyne. It was fabricated in Manchester, England, and transported to Launceston, assembled on a pontoon, floated into position then lowered on to its abutments on the receding tide. The bridge provided a vital link with the West Tamar Region.
The duplicate adjacent span, fabricated by Salisbury's foundry in Launceston, was similarly erected and floated into position in 1904.
William Doyne was trained in civil engineering in England on the London South Western Railway and later worked on the construction of a railway near Hamburg in Germany. He continued his railway career as Manager and Engineer for the Rugby and Leamington spa Railway in England. For this railway he designed and built a wrought iron lattice bridge about which he presented two prize- winning papers to the Institution of Civil Engineers.
While the dual-carriageway West Tamar Highway now bypasses Kings Bridge on a modern concrete structure, Kings Bridge remains in service providing direct access to the suburb of Trevallyn.
The heritage-listed Ritchies Mill complex commands one of the best views in Launceston. Known originally as the Cataract Mill, because of its location near the entrance to Cataract Gorge, milling began on the site in 1833 when Andrew Sibbald and Thomas Ferguson built their mill here. The mill was sold to David Ritchie in 1876 by tennant miller John Toan who had occupied the premises for sixteen years.
The Ritchie milling dynasty began with Thomas Ritchie, who by 1834 had built a flourmill at Scone, near Perth. Sons Thomas, John and George were involved with milling in Longford, but it was David who turned Scone Mill into one of the leading mills in Tasmania, producing high standard flour as well as most of Tasmania's oatmeal. Following the 1870 loss of the mill to fire, he moved into Launceston, buying the Cataract Mill in 1876. Ritchie was the first Tasmanian miller, in April 1889, to convert from stones to a complete roller mill, and in 1910 D. Ritchie and Son built Tasmania's first concrete grain silos. The comparatively small mill continued operating until bought by Monds & Affleck in 1973 and closed.
Until 1857 the business was considered Launceston s El Dorado as it was also the town s main source of water. The reinforced concrete silos designed by Alexander North in 1910 were revolutionary for Tasmania and remain a Launceston landmark.The Mill is now home to Stillwater, Afe, Restaurant and Wine Bar.
Designed by the prolific Launceston architect Peter Mills in the 19th Century, the Town Hall was built in 1864 in a bold Italianate style that apparently offended the local newspaper: "The Town Hall is a bastard...the designer appears to have studied how far he could outrage good taste and set delicacy by obtruding as many points and angles upon the eye as it was possible..." -The Examiner 23rd February 1867. Another objection was that the columns were so close together that a lady dressed in one of the full sized crinolines of the day would practically fill the space! In the 1930s the Town Hall was skillfully doubled in size, extending the initial four columns to nine.
Location: Cnr St John Street and Cameron Street, Launceston
