Westbury

Westbury (including Hagley)
Historic village with a decidedly English feel.
There is an argument that if the English village is some kind of high point of charm then Westbury, the most English of all villages in Australia, is certainly a place worthy of visiting and languidly experiencing. Yes, it has everything a cliched English village has. A village green, lots of tree-lined streets, old courtyards and stables, elegant old inns and so many charming houses the visitor could easily spend a day just wandering around the streets.

Westbury is really a feast of beautiful old buildings. It is lovely beyond belief. There are so many historic homes that the visitor seems to go on an endless voyage of discovery where around every corner there is a new and exciting building. There are so many superb buildings in the town that many of them haven't even made the National Trust. This is a town with a true excess of delights.

Located on the Bass Highway 34 km from Launceston and 64 km from Burnie, Westbury is a classified historic town. The town came into existence in the early 1820s. It was surveyed in 1823 and by 1828 Governor Arthur ordered that the townsite be laid out with a view to Westbury becoming a major stopover point on the route from Hobart to the northwest coast which, at the time, was being opened up by the Van Diemen's Land Company. The scale of the survey was such that it is clear there were plans for Westbury to become a city.

By 1832 Lieutenant Ball and a detachment of troops were stationed near the Village Green. Four years later the town's population comprised 227 free men and women and 317 convicts.

The town never did grow. Consequently this early plan for a substantial township has been held in aspic. It is a town where time has stood still.

Things to see:

The Village Green
Turn west off main road at Lonsdales Prom and you will come to the Village Green. It is said to be the only true village green in Australia. Certainly in the 1830s, with the soldiers stationed nearby, it was used for parades and archery competitions. Prisoners were put in stock on the green and it would have been alive with fairs during the summer months.

Some interesting Historic Homes
White House
The White House is located at the western end of Lonsdales Prom. Perhaps the most famous of all the houses in Westbury, the White House stands on land which was granted to Thomas White on 4 November, 1841. A few years later White established a store and domestic residence on the site and in 1855 it became known as White's Token Store when he made some penny tokens which could be used to buy goods in the store. White left the building in 1859 and over the next century it was variously a steam flour mill, a bakery, a bus depot and a bicycle hire factory. After extensive renovation, the White House was opened to the public in 1971. It is a fascinating combination of its past history with a well-preserved 19th century house (it comprises a dining room, small sitting room, large sitting room, bedroom, attic bedroom and kitchen) as well as a Cycle Display, a Vintage Car Museum and bakery. For opening times and other information contact (03) 6393 1171

St Andrews Church
Directly opposite the Village Green and dominating the landscape is St Andrews Anglican church which was built between 1836 and 1890 - the foundation stone was laid in 1836, the nave was opened in 1842, the church was consecrated in 1851, the tower was added in 1859 and the chancel was completed in 1890. The church is noted for its fine carvings particularly 'The seven sisters' chancel screen. They were all completed by Mrs Ellen Nora Payne who was born and grew up in the village. Next door to the church is an attractive two storey brick house which was built in the 1840s and became the residence for Westbury Council clerks.