A town with a rich history
George Town (Palawa_kani: kinimathatakinta) has a rich history. The area now occupied by George Town has been home to Palawa Peoples for as long as 43,000 years, with many significant meeting and living places throughout the local landscape.
George Town is the third oldest settlement in Australia behind the cities of Sydney and Hobart; Bass and Flinders anchored here in 1798 and the town was settled in 1804 by Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson.
George Town sits at the mouth of the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary on Tasmania’s northern coast and is a short drive from the city of Launceston via the East Tamar Highway. Best known for its cultural heritage, the town also boasts amazing surfing and fishing locations, beautiful beaches and the historical precinct at nearby Low Head. The deep-water port and industrial area at the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone is the largest industrial precinct in Tasmania, producing 59 per cent of all our state’s manufactured exports.
37
Minutes
by car from Launceston
5
Schools
including three primary and two secondary schools
7k
Residents
making up our friendly community
With a population of 7,000 people, George Town offers all the amenities you would expect from a busy municipality – including a new hospital, three primary schools, two secondary schools, a multi-function sporting complex and recreation facilities.
George Town’s retail business precinct is centred around Macquarie Street and features a variety of speciality shops, cafes and award-winning accommodation that creates a welcoming cultural experience for residents and visitors alike.
The many historical attractions of the area include the Low Head Pilot Station and Maritime Museum, The Bass and Flinders Centre (home to the sloop “Norfolk”), Georgian historic home The Grove, and the old Watch House.
Come see what the area has to offer