Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the George Town Council area were the Leterremairrener, Panninher and Tyerrernotepanner Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1804 when a small party from HMS Buffalo ran aground at the mouth of the Tamar River. A camp was established at George Town (originally known as Outer Cove), although this was relocated to the western side of the river soon after. A pilot station operated from Low Head from 1805. The township of George Town was established in the 1810s by Governor Macquarie, initially as the major settlement for the colony’s north, although this decision was reversed in 1825, with Launceston becoming the major town. George Town initially operated as a military garrison, a female factory and convict settlement. From the 1830s George Town became a port, developing trading links with the Victorian colony. From 1842 the port declined, but George Town became the major seaside resort for Launceston, aided by the establishment of a steamboat service. Growth took place during the late 1800s, spurred by gold discoveries at Lefroy in 1869, with mining until the late 1890s. Land was then used mainly for grazing and farming. Significant population growth occurred during the 1950s and 1960s, spurred by the establishment of an aluminium smelter at Bell Bay from 1955, with accompanying industrial development. The population of the Council area declined slightly during the 1990s, falling from nearly 7,000 in 1991 to about 6,300 in 2001, and then increased marginally, rising to about 6,600 in 2016.

Land use

The George Town Council area includes rural and rural-residential areas, with a township at George Town, and a smaller township at Low Head. Significant industrial areas are located just south of George Town, including the Bell Bay Port. Rural land is used largely for agriculture (particularly sheep and cattle grazing) and forestry. Tourism is also an important industry. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 660 square kilometres.

Transport

The George Town Council area is served by the East Tamar Highway and Bell Bay Port.

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include numerous wineries and vineyards,
• Hillwood Berry Farm,
• Miller’s Orchard,
• various beaches (including Beechford Beach,
• Bellbuoy Beach,
• East Beach,
• Gibsons Beach,
• Lagoon Bay Beach and Weymouth Beach),
• Low Head Penguin Tours,
• Low Head Pilot Station and Maritime Museum,
• George Town Watch House,
• Low Head Lighthouse,
• Bass and Flinders Centre,
• Bell Bay Aluminium Smelter,
• Bell Bay Manganese Smelter,
• Tamar Valley Power Station,
• George Town District Hospital,
• University of Tasmania (George Town Rural Health Teaching Site),
• Stony Head Training Area (Department of Defence),
• George Town Golf Club,
• Tam O’Shanter Golf Club,
• several state forests,
• The Tamar River and Curries River Reservoir.

Included areas