Launceston

This city sits in northeastern Tasmania where two rivers meet to form the Tamar. It serves as the administrative center of the region and counts around 91,000 residents spread across several districts with residential areas, commercial zones, and public facilities.

The settlement was founded in 1806 under the name Patersonia and soon renamed after a town in Cornwall. It grew into one of the first lasting British outposts on the island.

The city takes its name from a coastal town in Cornwall and many streets still carry English names from the early colonial period. Parks and tree-lined avenues shape the townscape today and residents often use them for walks or picnics on weekends.

Numerous paths for walkers and cyclists run through the city and link residential areas with green spaces along the riverbanks. Public buses operate regularly between the main districts and allow access to most parts of town without a private vehicle.

The city was the first in Australia to install an underground sewerage system, long before other colonial towns carried out similar projects. It also saw the first use of anesthesia in medical procedures in the Southern Hemisphere.

Location: City of Launceston

Inception: 1806

Elevation above the sea: 0 m

Website: http://launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc

GPS coordinates: -41.44444,147.13778

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03