George Town, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George TownTasmania |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Watch House
|
|||||||||
 George Town
Location in Tasmania
|
|||||||||
| Population | 4,347 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1804 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7253 | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||
| Location |
|
||||||||
| LGA(s) | George Town Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Bass | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Bass | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
George Town (in the palawa kani language: kinimathatakinta) is a town in north-east Tasmania. It sits on the eastern side of the Tamar River, right where it meets the sea. In 2016, about 4,347 people lived in George Town.
This town is the main hub for the George Town Council area. It has important services like a hospital and supermarkets. It also has good facilities for the community.
Contents
History of George Town
People have lived in the George Town area for a very long time. Aboriginal Tasmanians were here at least 7,000 years ago. Some evidence even suggests they were here as far back as 43,000 years ago.
Early European Exploration and Settlement
In 1798, explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders sailed into the Tamar River. They were exploring around Tasmania. They called the river "Port Dalrymple." The spot where George Town is now was called "Outer Cove."
In January 1804, a man named William Collins explored the river for 18 days. He was looking for the best place to build a settlement. Later that year, in November 1804, Colonel William Paterson arrived. He brought four ships with 181 people, including convicts and soldiers. They started a settlement at Outer Cove.
However, the main settlement moved a few times. First, it went to the west side of the river. Then, it moved about 50 km south to a place called Launceston.
Naming the Town
In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie visited Tasmania. He decided to move the main settlement back to Outer Cove. He named it George Town, after King George III. People were not keen to move at first. So, serious building of the town didn't start until 1819.
Even though the main settlement moved, the George Town area has been lived in since 1804. This is because it was important to have a strong position at the river's mouth. This makes George Town one of the oldest European settlements in Australia.
Connecting with Others
- 1822: The George Town Post Office opened. This helped people send letters.
- 1825: A semaphore system was set up in the Tamar Valley. This was a way to send messages using flags or arms on towers.
- 1869: An underwater telegraph cable connected Tasmania to mainland Australia. This was a big step for faster communication.
Geography and Local Landmarks
George Town is surrounded by interesting natural and man-made features:
- Mount George: A local mountain near the town.
- Tamar Valley Semaphore: Reminders of the old communication system.
- Low Head and Low Head Lighthouse: A nearby area with a historic lighthouse.
- Batman Bridge: A bridge that connects George Town to the West Tamar area.
- kanamaluka/Tamar River: The important river that flows past the town.
George Town's Climate
George Town has a mild climate, meaning it's not too hot or too cold. It has warm, fairly dry summers and cool, wetter winters. Winds from the Bass Strait help keep temperatures steady all year.
- The warmest month is usually February, with average high temperatures around 21.2°C.
- The coolest month is July, with average high temperatures around 12.8°C.
- The town gets about 671.6 mm of rain each year, mostly in winter.
- It's not a very sunny place, with many cloudy days.
| Climate data for George Town (41º03'00"S, 146º47'24"E, 3 m AMSL) (1998-2024 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 28.6 (83.5) |
28.7 (83.7) |
26.1 (79.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
20.4 (68.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.7 (78.3) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
17.8 (64.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
12.8 (55.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.4 (45.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.8 (33.4) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
1.4 (34.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48.0 (1.89) |
27.9 (1.10) |
50.6 (1.99) |
55.9 (2.20) |
61.4 (2.42) |
75.2 (2.96) |
74.2 (2.92) |
76.1 (3.00) |
55.6 (2.19) |
53.7 (2.11) |
50.7 (2.00) |
42.5 (1.67) |
671.6 (26.44) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 7.0 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 12.7 | 14.1 | 15.9 | 15.4 | 14.2 | 11.8 | 9.5 | 8.7 | 133.4 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 68 | 66 | 64 | 66 | 69 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 68 | 66 | 68 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) |
13.1 (55.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.0 (50.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
6.8 (44.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.1 (50.2) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.5 (49.2) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1998-2024 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
Important Infrastructure
George Town has some key infrastructure that helps power Tasmania and supports local industries.
- Basslink: This is a huge underwater cable that connects Tasmania's electricity grid to mainland Australia. It ends in George Town.
- Tamar Valley Power Station: This power station uses gas to create electricity. It started working in 2009 and provides power for many homes and businesses.
- Bell Bay: This nearby area has a port and factories that process metals like aluminium and manganese.
Schools in George Town
George Town has three schools for students:
- South George Town Primary School
- Star of the Sea College
- Port Dalrymple School
Future Plans and Attractions
George Town is always looking to the future and has many interesting places to visit.
New Mountain Bike Trails
The George Town Council is building over 80 km of special mountain bike trails. These trails will be in two areas: one near Mount George and another in the Tippogoree Hills. This project is expected to be finished by December 2021. It will be a great place for mountain biking!
Places to Visit
- "The Grove": This is a beautiful old Georgian-style house built in 1829. Many people visit it.
- Low Head Pilot Station: Built by convicts in 1805, this historic site is also very popular.
- Seaside Fun: George Town is a great spot for swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating.
- Little Penguins: You can find a colony of Little Penguins at the nearby beach in Low Head.
Clubs and Museums
George Town has many clubs and places to learn about history:
- Sports Clubs: The George Town Football Club, George Town Bowls Club, George Town Junior Soccer Club, and the George Town Cricket Club are popular.
- Bass and Flinders Maritime Museum: This museum has a collection of old boats. It includes a copy of the 1798 ship called the Norfolk.
- The Watch House: Built in 1843, this building was once the town jail. Now, it's a gallery and local history museum. It has a model of the town from the early 1800s.
- Lighthouse Regional Arts: This group holds an art show every year. They also have art displays at the Watch House and other local spots.
- George Town RSL Military Museum: This museum has a large collection of military items. They cover conflicts from the 1880s to today.
Local Media
George Town has its own local radio station, Tamar FM 95.3. It's a community station that plays music and advertises local businesses.
Annual Events
George Town hosts several fun events each year:
- The Tamar Valley Folk Festival: This festival happens in January. It features local and international musicians, workshops, and other festive activities.
- Steampunk Tasmania Festival: A unique festival celebrating steampunk culture.
- George Town New Years Eve Extravaganza: A big New Year's Eve celebration.
- Don Mario's Classic Cars and Coffee: Car lovers meet up and show off classic cars on the first Sunday of each month.
Famous People from George Town
Some notable people who have lived in George Town include:
- John Youl: An early clergyman.
- Brendon Bolton: A former coach for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League.
- Danny Clark: A famous cyclist.
See also
In Spanish: George Town (Tasmania) para niños
