Reliquaire

Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame

Since early colonial days, timbergetting and timber cutting has been a major industry in Australia, and Latrove has played an important role in its development in Tasmania. In the early 1840s, Latrobe became a major northern port, exporting timber and then produce to the mainland during the Victorian gold rush.

The United Australian Axemen's Association was formed in Whittaker's Coffee Palace in Latrobe in June 1891 to plan the world's first axmen's carnival, which took place in the town later that year. Woodchopping events have since become part of the national culture and many Tasmanians have excelled in them. Latrobe's Australian Axeman's Hall of Fames salutes both the pioneers of the industry and those who have triumphed in the competitive woodchopping.

Henley On The Mersey

The Henley On The Mersey is a carnival held annually on Australia Day, 26th January, at Bells Parade. This event is co-ordinated by the Henley-on-Mersey Management Committee, a joint effort of the Rotary Club of Latrobe, Lions Club of Latrobe and Latrobe Council. For over 85 years this carnival has been a major social and sporting event to raise funds, all of which are spent in the Latrobe region. One of Tasmania's leading sports carnivals, The Henley On The Mersey attracts thousands of people.

One of the highlights of the day are the Ferret Races, which creates much excitement, not only amongst the audience, but also amongst the ferret owners. The ferretingtraditions of the region are remembered when ferrets were used to hunt rabbits. The ferret would be placed down a rabbit burrow after all exits from the burrow had been netted, the ferret would then seek out the rabbits within the warren and as the rabbits tried to escape they would be caught in the nets.

Legend has it that many of the farming properties in the Latrobe district were originally purchased with thanks to the efforts of the ferrets and also the incomes from the sale of the rabbit pelts. At Henley On The Mersey, the ferrets are placed in one end of a long pipe that lies along, over and around hay bales. The first ferret to fully emerge from the pipe at the other end is the winner.

Platypus Tours

Warrawee Reserve Landcare Platypus Tours allow viewing the unique platypus in the wild. As with most observations of animals in their natural environment, viewing cannot be guaranteed. The Land-Care experts use their skills to ensure that visitors have a high change of spotting a platypus, 99% guaranteed. Tours should be prebooked a day or two before arriving at the reserve.
59 George Street, Labrobe. Ph (03) 6426 1774.

Pig Island

A 30 minute nature walk traverses the well defined bush tracks and open spaces of Pig Island. The wetlands run alongside the Mersey River, and under the banks of tree lined Bells Parade. Lucky walkers may spot Platypus on this track early morning or dusk. Location: Bells Parade River Rd, Latrobe.





HOUSE OF ANVERS
A real chocolate taste sensation. Fine couverture chocolates, truffles, pralines, fudges and more. Café & tasting open 7days.
9025 Bass Highway, Latrobe 7307
Ph: (03) 6426 2958


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ASHGROVE CHEESE
Taste award winning cheeses, view the making and maturing process. Offering premium cheese, milk, butter & ice-cream.
6173 Bass Highway, Elizabeth Town 7304
Ph: (03) 6368 1105

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Latrobe Uniting Church (Wesleyan chapel)

the foundation stone of Latrobe's Wesleyan chapel was laid by Colonel Shaw on 9 July 1879. At this time Latrobe was an important port and trading community. The architect and builder of the church was William Gadsby of Formby (Devonport), and Mr Michael Wood was the Clerk-of Works. The building was completed within eighteen months, at a cost of 888 pounds. The first service was held on Sunday, 2 January 1881. The brick church replaced an earlier timber structure (c1850s), which was relocated to the north-east corner of the site. This small timber church (shown in c1900 photograph) was sold for seven pounds in 1908, when it was replaced by the present Sunday School building. In 1929, the vestry (and presumably the chancel) were added, in commemoration of the church's Jubilee. Location: 7 Hamilton Street, Latrobe.

Lucas Hotel

This iconic two storey corner Georgian hotel was built in 1872. At the rear of the building is an old watercourse which has been planked over. The Hotel replaced a previous hotel which was destroyed by fire and in 1995 the site was restored to quiet rooms with ensuites, televisions, refrigerators, tea and coffee making facilities.
Location: 46 Gilbert Street, corner Victor Street, Latrobe.

Frogmore

Frogmore is a large two storey brick Victorian Italianate Villa built in 1880 for George Atkinson. Features of the building include a three level tower, two storey return verandah and porte cochere. It is a memorable building on a corner site in a semi-rural landscape. George Atkinson arrived in Tasmania in 1852 and he started auctioneering around 1876 and 1877 until about 1916 when he transferred the business to W. Bell & Company. He was the first Warden of the Latrobe Council, a position he held from 1908-1913. Atkinson was the son of George Atkinson Sr. who built Latrobe's first General Store and first hotel, the Royal Charter, in 1858. It is a private home and not open to the public.
Location: Mersey Main Road, opposite intersection with Railton Road, 1.5km west of Latrobe.

Sherwood Hall

This historic home was built in 1850 for Thomas Johnson and his wife Dolly Dalrymple, two of the most prominent people in that era in Tasmania and the subject of historic events still taught in Tasmanian schools today. Johnson was a pioneer and settler who began life in Van Diemen's Land as a convict. After his emancipation, Johnson built the first bridge over the Mersey River, farmed the property Frogmore for many years and owned a number of establishments at Latrobe, Sherwood and Ballahoo, as well as blocks of land in the township of Tarleton where he built Sherwood Hall. Johnson later opened and operated the Alfred Colliery, which shipped its coal from Ballaho Creek.

Dolly Dalrymple Mountgarret Briggs (1808-1864) was the first recorded child of an Aboriginal and white person union. Her father was a sailor and sealer in Bass Strait. Her mother was a Tasmanian Aboriginal, named Bong, who belonged to the Dalrymple tribe, hence the name. This tribe lived near Port Dalrymple at the entrance of the River Tamar leading to Launceston.

Sherwood Hall was relocated to its present site in 1993 from its original site on Railton Road because it was threatened with collapse by long term erosion from the nearby Mersey River. Today it is furnished as would have been when Thomas Johnson and Dolly Dalrymple lived there. Sherwood Hall is open from 10am until 2pm each Tuesday and Thursday, and from 1pm until 4pm each Saturday and Sunday. Entry is with a gold coin donation. Location: 1 Bells Parade, Latrobe. Ph (03) 6426 2888.

About Dolly Dalrymple