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Latrobe accommodation, restaurants, history, things to do

The Latrobe area was first settled by B. B. Thomas in 1826 and, in 1861, the settlement was named for Charles Joseph Latrobe (1801-1875), the administrator of the colony of Tasmania.

The town grew up because Latrobe was the first convenient point, from the mouth of the river, where the Mersey River could be crossed.

Latrobe was Tasmania's third largest settlement between 1870-95 with a hospital, three newspapers, a large number of inns and hotels, and a local brass band, formed in 1872, which now can claim to be the oldest continuously playing band in Australia.

It is hard to imagine that a visiting English cricket team played on the local oval in 1888 and that, at the time, Latrobe was sufficiently important to be included on a tour schedule.

Latrobe stages Australia's richest wheel race, and is regarded as the birthplace of competitive wood chopping. The Australian Axeman’s Hall of Fame, on Bells Parade, is a tribute to this chopping heritage. Bells Parade is also the site of the former port and is now a favourite picnic spot for locals and visitors.

Latrobe is renowned for fine dining experiences, numerous quality antique shops, quaint cafes, majestic old buildings, the Courthouse Museum, the unique Axeman's Hall of Fame, fabulous Bells Parade, tempting Anvers Chocolates, the Teddy Sheean Memorial, superb walking tracks and the pristine Warrawee Reserve hiding the elusive platypus.

The Court House museum is located in Gilbert Street (the town's main street) next to the Post Office. Housed in the local Court House, which dates from 1883, it is a typical local folk museum. Its collection of over 600 prints and photographs provide an excellent visual history of the district. It is open Friday and Sunday from 2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.

By the early 1900s Devonport had become the more important centre and Latrobe went into a slow decline. It was only the establishment of paper mills in the area in the 1970s, suburban overspill from Devonport, and the town's importance as a retirement location, which allowed it to keep growing.

It is particularly beautiful in autumn when the deciduous trees shed their leaves.