Westbury, Tasmania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WestburyTasmania |
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 Westbury
Location in Tasmania
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| Population | 2,272 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1828 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 7303 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 207 m (679 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Meander Valley Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lyons | ||||||||
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Westbury is a friendly town in the middle north of Tasmania, Australia. It's about 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Launceston along the Bass Highway. In 2021, about 2,272 people lived there. Westbury is also the main town for the Meander Valley Council area.
Westbury is a great place for tourists to visit. It's close to many attractions in northern Tasmania. The town has many old buildings and beautiful scenery. You can find different places to stay, like cozy bed and breakfasts or charming country hotels.
Every year, Westbury hosts the St Patrick's Festival. This event celebrates the town's strong connection to its early Irish community. The festival includes music, dancing, a street parade, and fun activities for families.
In 2019, Westbury was considered for a new government facility for northern Tasmania. A new location further away is now being looked at.
Contents
History of Westbury
The area where Westbury now stands was first explored in 1823. The town itself was planned out in 1828 by the Van Diemen's Land Company. In the 1830s, Westbury became an important military village. Soldiers were stationed there in 1832. They lived around a central village green.
This village green is still used today. Locals say it's the only traditional English-style village green in Australia. For many years, the Westbury St Patrick’s Festival has been held here. It celebrates the town's Irish heritage.
Even though Westbury is often called a very "English village," many of its first European settlers were Irish. These included former convicts, retired soldiers, and free settlers. Many came to Tasmania to escape the Great Irish Famine in the 1840s. For a long time, Gaelic was spoken in Westbury. People say a strong Irish accent was common throughout the 1800s.
Soldiers who retired were given a 5-acre (20,000 square meter) piece of land. Each block came with a well and a pear tree. By the mid-1800s, Westbury was the largest military community in Tasmania. The town had about 3,000 people. It was planned to be the main town in northern Tasmania. However, Deloraine took on that role instead. Today, Westbury is still a small town that supports the local agriculture industry.
Westbury Primary School serves the local kids. After primary school, students usually go to high schools in Launceston or Deloraine. The town of Westbury is named after Westbury, Wiltshire, in England.
Westbury's Weather
Westbury has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild, slightly drier summers. Winters are usually colder and wetter. The average high temperature is around 23.4°C (74.1°F) in February. In July, the average high is about 9.7°C (49.5°F). The average low temperature is around 8.5°C (47.3°F) in February. In July, it can drop to about 0.6°C (33.1°F).
The town gets a moderate amount of rain each year. On average, it rains about 834.1 millimeters (32.8 inches) over 131 days.
| Climate data for Westbury (41º31'12"S, 146º48'36"E, 207 m AMSL) (1871-2014 normals) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
21.0 (69.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
10.0 (50.0) |
9.7 (49.5) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
16.9 (62.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.5 (47.3) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.7 (40.5) |
2.4 (36.3) |
1.0 (33.8) |
0.6 (33.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
4.4 (39.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 45.0 (1.77) |
46.4 (1.83) |
47.8 (1.88) |
64.6 (2.54) |
76.6 (3.02) |
85.7 (3.37) |
102.1 (4.02) |
97.2 (3.83) |
81.1 (3.19) |
74.0 (2.91) |
58.2 (2.29) |
55.7 (2.19) |
834.1 (32.84) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 7.4 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 13.0 | 15.4 | 15.3 | 13.1 | 12.3 | 10.3 | 9.0 | 131.1 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology (1871-2014 normals) | |||||||||||||
People of Westbury
The 2021 Census showed that Westbury had 2,272 people. There were slightly more females (50.8%) than males (49.2%).
About 3.2% of the people identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Most people (93.3%) were non-Indigenous. Many residents have English (50.6%) or Australian (43.5%) ancestry. A good number also have Irish (11.8%) or Scottish (9.9%) roots. About 3.4% have Aboriginal ancestry.
Most people in Westbury (98%) are Christians. The largest Christian groups include Anglicanism (42.5%), Methodism (27.3%), and Catholicism (16.4%).
Westbury's Economy
Westbury's biggest employer is Tasmanian Alkaloids. This company processes poppies to make ingredients for medicines. Other important employers in the town are the Meander Valley Council, Tasmanian Aquaculture, and the local primary school.
Fun Places to Visit in Westbury
Westbury has several interesting places for visitors to explore:
- Pearn's Steam World: This museum has a huge collection of over 200 old machines and items, many powered by steam.
- Westbury Maze and Tea Rooms: Get lost in a fun maze, then relax with some treats at the tea rooms.
- The White House: A historic building with a unique story.
- The Westbury Village Green: The heart of the town, perfect for a picnic or a stroll.
- The Giant Cricket Stumps: These huge stumps welcome you to the local cricket club.
Images for kids
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Part of Pearn's Steam World
