THE CITY ACCORDING TO ARCHITECTURE ADDICTS
Launnie is a jewel box of architectural styles and design,– best explored on foot, camera in hand. This little architecture sampler is just to whet your appetite for Launceston’s built heritage. Look closely. Look up. Notice every preserved or patinated surface. Do try to be careful though as you wind your way through-our-streets, you may accidentally fall in love with the place.
YOUR LOCAL GUIDE
ELLA BOAS
Explore delightful historical residences at the upper reaches of St John Street and along Elphin Road, or venture beyond the CBD to discover them along West Tamar Highway and Trevallyn Road.
“I love the intimacy of the architectural scale and the sense of embrace generated by awnings and diverse facades. Windows above shopfronts stimulate curiosity and conversation, while the eclecticism of architectural styles and signs of inhabitation tell a nuanced and evolving story about the lived history of this place.”
The design of the 1891 Queen Victoria Art Gallery was chosen as part of a competition. The winner was a young local architect, John Duncan. Fun fact: He also designed the Albert Hall for £25.
INDUSTRIAL SPIRIT
Ritchie's Mill, Paterson St
Nestled at the historic heart of Launceston, the venerable flour mill, initially erected in the 1840s at the Cataract Gorge's entrance, not only highlights the city's architectural lineage but also chronicles its evolution from a pivotal flour and oats milling site to the esteemed Ritchie's Mill Art Centre and now an acclaimed fine dining restaurant and accommodation.
Gasworks, Cimitiere St
The oldest buildings on site at Launceston Gasworks were built in 1860 from sandstone and local brick. At the top of retort buildings, fancy brickwork spells out “cook with gas.” The steel frame of the gasometer stands nearby.
Princes Square, Elizabeth St
Established in 1858 on a disused brickfield, Prince’s Square is known for its dappled light and beautiful Val d’Osne Fountain. Its symmetry belies earlier use as a rubbish dump, military parade ground and rowdy political meeting place.
OLD-WORLD CHARM
Quadrant mall, CBD
This picturesque Victorian streetscape was pedestrianised in 1979. During construction, a historic well was discovered at the northern end, on land granted to charismatic former convict Dicky White.
Albert Hall, Tamar St
Built for the Tasmanian International Exhibition of 1891-1892, this space has a compassionate history. It was used to farewell Australian troops to war, as a makeshift infirmary for the Spanish flu and shelter for those left homeless in the 1929 floods.
Old Umbrella Shop, George St
This 1860s grocery shop was refitted as an Umbrella Shop in 1918 and little has changed since. The shop is one of the last surviving retail experiences of the early 1900s and has been cared for by the National Trust since 1978.
Established in 1806, and Australia's third oldest city, Launnie offers well-preserved historic buildings. Explore via the "Cya on the Road" app's - Launceston walk.
THE SPOT LIST
Step into Launnie's storied past where every corner tells a tale.
- Albert Hall
- Bank of New South Wales
- Cornwall Historic Hotel
- Chalmer’s Church
- Custom House
- Duck Reach Power
- Station Esk Brewery
- Gasworks
- Henty House
- Holyman House
- John Hart Conservatory
- Johnstone & Wilmot Store
- Launceston Synagogue
- Launceston Post Office
- Macquarie House
- Milton Hall
- Morton House
- Old Brisbane Hotel
- Old Umbrella Shop
- Paterson Barracks
- Prince Albert Inn
- Prince’s Square
- Queen Victoria Art Gallery
- Queen Victoria Museum
- Ritchie’s Mill
- Shields Street
- St John’s Church
- Tasmanian Flour Mills
- The Quadrant Mall
- Town Hall
Discover Launnie's culinary gems while capturing its stunning architecture through your lens or pick up a self-guided walking tour from the Launceston Visitor Information Centre, 68-72 Cameron Street.
Visit Launceston Central
A BIT AVANT-GARDE
Duck Reach Power Station, Trevallyn
The Duck Reach Power Station was the first hydroelectric station commissioned in Australia. Its completion in 1895 saw Launnie become the first city in Australia to have electric streetlights.
Henty House, Civic Square
Completed in 1983, this is a bold example of brutalist architecture. Minimalist construction and angular geometric shapes deliberately showcase bare building materials like exposed concrete, glass and timber.
A TRIP BACK IN TIME
Explore Franklin House, an 1838 convict-built marvel that once served as a prominent private school, now a beacon of Tasmania's built heritage. Venture beyond Launnie to Evandale with its preserved late-Georgian and early Victorian architecture. Just 8km south of Evandale lies Clarendon, a National Trust-listed mansion hailed as Australia's grandest rural colonial estate.
discovertasmania.com.au