Ulverstone, on the banks of the Leven River, was originally called Badger Plains where the first land grant was made to Alexander Clarke.

The town site was surveyed in 1855 by surveyor George Melrose and probably named after ‘Ulverston’ in Lancashire.

During the 1850s, the district received few new settlers but was frequented by transient timber getters. The timber found ready markets in Melbourne, which desperately required good quality split timber during the Victorian gold rush. There were soon a number of sawmills in the area and such was the demand for timber that the forests were quickly cleared.

This exposed the rich chocolate-coloured volcanic soils and resulted in the emergence of potato cropping and dairy cattle breeding.

Up until June 1854, land releases in the district were often purchased under 'pre-emptive rights legislation' by distant purchasers whose intention was to keep the land for later sale at an increased price. With the repeal of that legislation, the conditions for settlers to take up residence improved.

There were only 15 inhabitants in 1861 and 25 in 1870. In 1874 it held Australia's first axeman competition and in 1897 the woman who would become Dame Edith Lyons, first woman in the Australian House of Representatives and first woman Cabinet Minister, was born in the town.

The arrival of the railway in 1890 gave the town the boost it required. It is now recognised as a major tourist and service centre. The town’s water supply was installed in 1907 and power was first generated in 1911, with the Hydro Electric Commission contracted to supply power to the town in 1924.

The Shrine of Remembrance is an imposing clock tower. It was designed and built by immigrants from Europe in 1953. It is a memorial for returned service personnel with each of the columns representing the three military services – Army, Navy and Air Force. ust north of this monument in Main Street, is an historical pioneer museum and village which explains the history and development of Ulverstone and has some wonderful displays.

Ulverstone had a population of 9,760 at the 2006 census.