The remainder was originally written by Natalie Cervant and edited by Ian Terry, with additional material added occasionally. 2 Paul Davies Pty Ltd
T H E S T U D Y
The Launceston Heritage Study aims to:
• identify and analyse the cultural heritage of the city and suburban areas of the City of
Launceston,
• provide an inventory of information on individual heritage places deemed worthy of entry
in the Tasmanian Heritage Register and in a format compatible with the Register and its
standard data sheet,
• provide historical information on initial construction date of principal structures on each
place, the owner at the time of construction, any information on that owner or any
subsequent owners that makes a case for that individual being important to Tasmania's
history, and
• provide an inventory of precincts worthy of heritage protection under the Launceston
Planning Scheme 1996 and provide a description of the particular heritage qualities of
those precincts.
reflects wider regional conditions Launceston's prosperity in the 20th century made it less secure due to a prolonged economic downturn. The maps and plans of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment have also been reviewed
,3
times. This is complemented by a vibrant Council
regarded as one of Australia's best and most innovative local authorities
offering its citizens parks, museums, art galleries and social services since 1900, a modern water treatment system residual
and hydroelectric power. It uses as a framework the
core themes identified by the Australian Heritage Council's Australian History Project
. 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. 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. Provide a list of those individual places that are deemed to contribute to
those heritage precincts, with an assessment on whether or not those places are of high
enough heritage significance to be worthy of entry in the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
The research begins with the identification and analysis of relevant secondary works.