George Town...
George Town is a modern administrative centre, near the mouth of the Tamar
River, close to good beaches and combining most visitor and recreation services.
One of the very earliest settlements in Australia, it saw rapid development
during the 1950's and 1960's to house workers and service expanding industry
at nearby Bell Bay.
The fortunes of George Town have fluctuated considerably over the past 180
years. Early history dates back to November 11, 1804 when Lt Col Paterson
raised the Union Jack on Monument Point and took possession in the name of
King George III. The town was named after the King by Governor Macquarie in
1811. A second period of activity was in the years 1834-40, due primarily
to the settlement in Victoria and the town's importance as a port and river
ferry terminal. A further brief period of activity in the 1850's was due to
the discovery of gold at Lefroy.
With the establishment of an aluminium works at Bell Bay in 1949 (now Comalco)
and other industrial and port development that has taken place in this area,
George Town is now a flourishing commercial and residential centre.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO: