Launceston

This week we are in Launceston the second largest city in Tasmania.

It’s famed for the Cataract Gorge, with panoramic views, walking trails, sculpted gardens and a chairlift. The Queen Victoria Museum, in a 19th-century railway workshop, has exhibitions on Tasmanian history. Its sister Art Gallery lies across the river, by sprawling Royal Park. The vineyards of the Tamar Valley stretch northwest along the Tamar River.

The estimated resident population of Launceston, Tasmania is 71,889. This figure is based on the 2022 estimates from the City of Launceston. The population of Launceston has been steadily increasing since 2016. 

The traditional owners of the Launceston area in Tasmania are the Palawa people, specifically those belonging to the North Midlands Tribe. They are the original inhabitants of the region and have a long-standing connection to the land, including the Tamar River (kanamaluka) area. The broader Tasmanian Aboriginal people, also known as the Palawa, are acknowledged as the traditional owners of all of Tasmania (lutruwita).

The town was established by Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson in 1804. He initially set up a settlement at Outer Cove, later named George Town, before moving to York Town and then to the present-day site of Launceston. The settlement was initially called Patersonia before being renamed Launceston in honour of Governor King.