Launceston is Australia’s third oldest city on the junction of the North Esk and South Esk Rivers. The area was first sighted by William Collins when he was investigating alternative sites for the settlement that was to come at Port Phillip in Victoria.

In fact, it was from Launceston that John Batman formed the syndicate that sailed across Bass Strait and founded Melbourne.
It was founded in 1804 by Colonel Paterson and its original name was Patersonia but was re-named Launceston in honour of New South Wales Governor Philip King who was born at Launceston in Cornwall. The name Patersonia has survived however being the name of a small village 18 kilometres north-west of Launceston.

By 1827, Launceston's population had climbed to 2,000 and the town had become an export centre, mainly for the colony's northern pastoral industry.

Paterson Barracks, built by 1830, was described at the time as the very best brick building in Van Diemen's Land. It was built as a commissariat store, designed to house foods and supplies, not only for the military and government officials in the young settlement, but also free settlers assisted by the government to establish in the new land. Today it is home to the Sixteenth Field Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery, and Launceston's cadet units.

Australia’s first private school was opened in 1846 at the Launceston Church Grammar school and still thrives as an educational facility.

Tin was discovered at Mount Bischoff in 1871 in north-western Tasmania, starting a minerals boom that became responsible for the construction of a lot of Launceston’s commercial district.

Gold mining commenced approximately 50 kilometres away in Beaconsfield in 1877 and, during the following two decades, Launceston grew from a small town into an urban centre. In 1889, Launceston was the second city in Tasmania to be declared a city, after state capital Hobart.

The majestic Town Hall was constructed in 1864 and the city became the first in the southern hemisphere to have electric street lighting in 1895.

City Park, pictured at the top of this page, was established in the 1920s and features a monkey island and the John Hart Conservatory.

One of the most visited parts of Launceston is The Gorge, located virtually in the centre of the city – a magnificent facility enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. The earliest recorded visit to this area was made by settler William Collins in 1804 when exploring the Port in the ship "Lady Nelson".

He was particularly impressed by the South Esk and its cataract and wrote: "Upon approaching the entrance I observed a large fall of water over rocks, nearly a quarter of a mile up a straight gully between many perpendicular rocks about 150 feet high.

The beauty of the scene is probably not surpassed in the world". It is now the home of many facilities and the longest single span chairlift in the world.

Quick-pics of Launceston