In particular we would like to thank:
• Staff of the Community History Museum of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery,
Launceston
• Staff of the Local Studies Library, State Library of Tasmania, Launceston
• Elspeth Wishart and Anne McConnell
• Staff of the Archives Office of Tasmania
• Staff of the Central Plan Room of the Department of Primary Industries Water and the
Environment
• Staff of the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts and the Tasmaniana Library, State
Library of Tasmania
• Paul Davies and David Parham
A B B R E V I A T I O N S
Allport Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library of Tasmania
AOT Archives Office of Tasmania
DPIWE Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment
HRA Historical Records of Australia
JPPP Journals and Printed Papers of Parliament
QVMAG Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania
Tasmaniana Tasmaniana Library, State Library of Tasmania
Launceston Heritage Study: Thematic History
Paul Davies Pty Ltd
H I S T O R I C C O N T E X T
I N T R O D U C T I O N
After an uncertain foundation caused by divergent views concerning the appropriate site for
northern Tasmania’s major centre, Launceston developed into a city with a rich nineteenth and
early twentieth century industrial history and an outstanding built heritage of late Victorian
and Federation buildings. Although there is no complete and entirely reliable history of Launceston, numerous documents, articles, books and reports
have been prepared and published on various aspects of the district's
history since 1798.
A U T H O R S H I P
The Launceston Heritage Study—Stage 1: Thematic History was prepared by Ian Terry,
historian, heritage and interpretation consultant and Nathalie Servant, consultant historian, for
Paul Davies Pty Ltd, architect and heritage consultant. 3, 3, 5, 6 and 7 were
prepared by Ian Terry. After its site was confirmed in 1823 it quickly developed a distinct
identity to Hobart, an identity most clearly expressed by the strength of the anti-
transportationist movement there in the 18
0s and 1850s.
In particular the thematic history of the study:
• analyses the history and historical geography of the study area, and
• identifies historical themes and the evolution of development of the City of Launceston. Since the middle of the 19th century, the social and cultural life of
has been very active.
The research begins with the identification and analysis of relevant secondary works. The maps and plans of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment have also been reviewed
,3
times. This is a large amount of
,
well-documented documents, filling in the small gaps left by the current sources with minimal preliminary research.
