History

Image Source: H.J King, Town Hall, Launceston, Tasmania, 1911, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Collection, QVM:1983:P:0968 

Thousands of generations of Aboriginal People have lived in the Kanamaluka / Tamar River region. We recognise and value their histories and knowledge, and pay respect to Elders past and present as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hope for generations to come. 

History

Launceston was proclaimed a municipality by an Act of Parliament on 30 October 1852, 47 years after European settlement. The boundaries extended less than two kilometres from the centre of the town. Seven Aldermen were elected to the Launceston Town Council on 1 January 1853, at the first local government elections held in Van Diemen’s Land. The Aldermen elected the first Mayor, Alderman William Stammers Button, later that day at the first meeting of the Town Council.

On 8 May 1985, the councils of Launceston City, St Leonards and Lilydale were amalgamated to form the new City of Launceston. After this amalgamation, a number of rural areas were included in the municipal area. The most recent boundary changes took place in 1992 when parts of Prospect and Relbia were included within our local government area. 

Town Hall

Launceston’s Town Hall is one of few mid-Victorian buildings still used for its original purpose. The ground floor of the original building contained the Council Chamber and municipal offices, along with a concert hall and meeting room on the upper floor. The building was first occupied in 1867.

The Town Hall has been extended and its interior modified several times — first in 1906 and again in 1936. The Town Hall Annexe was developed in 1986-88 using the late nineteenth century Federation - Queen Anne styled building, known as the old Mail Exchange, on the southwest corner of Cimitiere and St John Streets.