George Town - Places to See

Old Watch House Museum
A suitable starting point for visitors to George Town is the Old Watch House Museum in Macquarie Street (turn towards the river from the Main Road) which was originally the local lockup for both male and female offenders. Originally built in 1843 it has been restored and now operates as a craft shop and information centre.

George Town
One of George Town's main historic attractions is 'The Grove', an elegant stone house located at 25 Cimitiere Street - turn west off Goulburn Street. It was probably built in 1829 and was occupied in the 1830s and 1840s by Mathew Friend, the port officer and magistrate.The Grove is now a bed and breakfast and has a restaurant for group bookings only. Contact (03) 6382 1336 for more information or check out: http://www.thegrovetas.com/

Bell Bay
A few kilometres south of George Town is the industrial port of Bell Bay which achieved fame in the 1950s and 1960s when it became the site of Australia's first producer of aluminium. It utilised Tasmania's cheap electricity to convert bauxite into finished aluminium.

Today Bell Bay is a thriving port servicing most of northern Tasmania. Its industries are based around aluminium, its thermal power station, its woodchip and paper mills, and its large oil installations.

Low Head
5 km north of George Town is Low Head, a sheltered harbour which is now a classified historic town. Apart from its status as a popular holiday resort location (East Beach is a popular surfing location and Lagoon Bay is ideal for children), the tiny settlement has a 12 m high lighthouse which overlooks the entrance to the River Tamar. It was built in 1888 to replace the original lighthouse which was constructed by convicts in the early 1830s.

The nearby pilot station (the oldest in Australia it was completed in 1835) houses a Maritime Museum which includes memorabilia salvaged from the many shipwrecks on the north coast as well as some interesting, early diving equipment.

The river track between Pilot Bay and the lighthouse is the best place to watch the fairy penguins come ashore at dusk.

Visitors seeking more information should refer to George Town: History of the Town and District by J. G. Branagan which provides a very comprehensive history of the entire district or check out the Municipal website: http://www.georgetown.tas.gov.au