George Town, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
George Town is one of the larger towns in north-east Tasmania
, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Tamar River. At the 2006 census
, George Town had a population of 4,266. It is the regional centre of the George Town Council
Local Government Area.
George Town is one of the oldest European settlements in Australia. It was first settled in 1804, two years before the now much more important city of Launceston
.
George Town was well known as the Tasmanian port for the now-defunct SeaCat Tasmania fast passenger ferry. Basslink
, the 400 kV high-voltage direct current
submarine cable connecting Tasmania to the National Electricity Market
, terminates in George Town.
The municipal area had a population of 6,728 (2001 census
).
to be built in the George Town area, the largest industrial complex of its kind in Australia. The Tasmanian community is divided on its merits, due to environmental concerns and the proponent getting the development 'fast-tracked' through parliament, sidestepping Tasmania's established planning and environmental regulations. It was approved recently by a parliamentary vote.
The mill is expected to create 280 permanent jobs, and 1,000 during the construction phase, boosting the population of the George Town area.
". The George Town Council
at first supported the project, but many in the community disagreed with the proposal, which led to council scrapping the idea and not allowing the necessary subdivision to occur. On 20 April 2007 the plans were officially abandoned. The project was expected to cost around $20 million.
propose to build a 200 MW gas-fired power station in the vicinity of George Town. It would create 200 direct and 100 indirect jobs during construction, proposed to begin in 2007 and to be generating electricity from 2009.
George Town has clubs or associations in many different sports, most notably the George Town Football Club, and the George Town Cricket Club
.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Tamar River. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, George Town had a population of 4,266. It is the regional centre of the George Town Council
George Town Council
The George Town Council is a Local Government Area of the state of Tasmania in Australia. It covers George Town and the surrounding area.In 2006, George Town had the highest birth rate in Tasmania, with a TFR of 3.75 children per women....
Local Government Area.
George Town is one of the oldest European settlements in Australia. It was first settled in 1804, two years before the now much more important city of Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
.
George Town was well known as the Tasmanian port for the now-defunct SeaCat Tasmania fast passenger ferry. Basslink
Basslink
Basslink is a high-voltage direct current cable link crossing Bass Strait, connecting the Loy Yang Power Station, Victoria on the Australian mainland to the George Town substation in northern Tasmania...
, the 400 kV high-voltage direct current
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
submarine cable connecting Tasmania to the National Electricity Market
National Electricity Market
The National Electricity Market is the name of the Australian wholesale electricity market and the associated synchronous electricity transmission grid....
, terminates in George Town.
The municipal area had a population of 6,728 (2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
).
Geography and landmarks
- Mount George
- Low HeadLow Head, TasmaniaLow Head is a small hamlet located on a peninsula by the same name 5 km north-west of George Town, Tasmania, Australia. On the mouth of the Tamar River. It is known for its diving off the Low Head Pilots Station. The town has a lighthouse, a beach and a penguin colony...
and Low Head LighthouseLow Head LighthouseLow Head Lighthouse is located in Low Head, Tasmania, about north of George Town on the east side of the mouth of the Tamar River. It was the third lighthouse to be constructed in Australia, and it is also Australia's oldest continuously used pilot station... - Batman BridgeBatman BridgeThe Batman Bridge is a modern bridge spanning the Tamar River in northern Tasmania. The bridge is on the Batman Highway connecting the West Tamar Highway to the East Tamar Highway . The eastern end of the bridge is located at Whirlpool Reach, George Town Council and the western end is located...
- Joining the George Town Municipality to the West TamarWest TamarThe West Tamar Council is a Local Government Area of Tasmania, Australia. As its name suggests, it covers almost all of the western shore of the Tamar River, from Bass Strait in the north, down to Launceston in the south.... - Tamar River
Bell Bay Pulp Mill
Gunns Limited have recently proposed a pulp millBell Bay Pulp Mill
The Bell Bay Pulp Mill, also known as the Tamar Valley Pulp Mill or Gunns Pulp Mill, is a proposed $2.3 billion pulp mill which Gunns Limited is planning to build in the Tamar Valley, near Launceston, Tasmania.-Proposed mill:...
to be built in the George Town area, the largest industrial complex of its kind in Australia. The Tasmanian community is divided on its merits, due to environmental concerns and the proponent getting the development 'fast-tracked' through parliament, sidestepping Tasmania's established planning and environmental regulations. It was approved recently by a parliamentary vote.
The mill is expected to create 280 permanent jobs, and 1,000 during the construction phase, boosting the population of the George Town area.
Windmill Point Hotel
A four-level hotel was proposed by a Queensland company; it would have also included a 20-storey look-out. The project designs showed a lighthouse-style tower, that would glow in the dark, and its developers claimed it would be "Tasmania's Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
". The George Town Council
George Town Council
The George Town Council is a Local Government Area of the state of Tasmania in Australia. It covers George Town and the surrounding area.In 2006, George Town had the highest birth rate in Tasmania, with a TFR of 3.75 children per women....
at first supported the project, but many in the community disagreed with the proposal, which led to council scrapping the idea and not allowing the necessary subdivision to occur. On 20 April 2007 the plans were officially abandoned. The project was expected to cost around $20 million.
Gas power station
AlintaAlinta
Alinta is an Australian energy infrastructure company. It has grown from a small, Western Australia based gas distributor and retailer to the largest energy infrastructure company in Australia. It was bought in 2007 by a consortium including Singapore Power and various now defunct Babcock & Brown...
propose to build a 200 MW gas-fired power station in the vicinity of George Town. It would create 200 direct and 100 indirect jobs during construction, proposed to begin in 2007 and to be generating electricity from 2009.
Tourism
George Town is a popular tourist destination in the summer because of its history and fishing locations.George Town has clubs or associations in many different sports, most notably the George Town Football Club, and the George Town Cricket Club
Georgetown Cricket Club
George Town Cricket Club is a cricket team which represents the town of George Town in the Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association grade cricket competition, in the Australian state of Tasmania....
.
Media
George Town has its own radio station, Tamar FM which is a community radio station generally playing music and advertising local businesses. George Town also had its own fortnightly newspaper, The George Town Journal, which operated in 2007.Events
Some main events that happen annually in George Town include:- George Town on Show
- Targa TasmaniaTarga TasmaniaTarga Tasmania is a tarmac-based rally event held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, annually since 1992. The event takes its name from the Targa Florio, a former motoring event held on the island of Sicily...
Prologue