| WESTBURY - TASMANIA - 7303 | ||||
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 The Giant Wicket at Westbury |
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Population: 1,400 Elevation: 35m Latitude: -41.3134 Longitude: 146.5042 Location: 220km north west of Hobart Highway: Bass Hwy. Nearest Major Town: Launceston Nearest Airport: Launceston Touring Area: Great Western Tiers |
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 Main street of Westbury |
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Settled in the 1820s the Classified Historic Town of Westbury is located 34km from Launceston on
the Bass Highway. Its history can still be experienced at one of its many historic buildings including the White House (circa 1840). Lieutenant Governor Arthur saw Westbury as the main gateway to Tasmania's north west and the town was laid out around a grand village square in 1828 with high ambition. It is one of Tasmania's 17 officially classified historic towns (plus Battery Point, which is a classified historic village). It is unusual to find village greens in Australia, but Westbury has one and it is the setting for an annual Maypole Festival. Buildings around the green's perimeters include a National Trust property. The White House, which began life in 1840 as Thomas White's Token Store. What to See and Do: See the 'Big Wicket' at the gates to gthe park, another of Australia's 'Big Things' and well worth a photo.Click here for a list. Picnic on the village green, tour The White House, see Fitzpatrick's Inn, St Andrews Church (with carvings by a former resident), Holy Trinity Church, Pearn's Steam World, which is believed to have the largest collection of steam-driven engines in the southern hemisphere. Call in to Meander Valley Crafts and see some local craft. Farther afield, travel to Carrick (14km) where a former flour mill is among historic buildings converted for tourism purposes.
INFORMATION CENTRE: Great Western Tiers Visitor Centre Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine. Tasmania. 7304 HOW TO GET THERE: Coach Operators Redline: Ph: 1300 360 000 Greyhound Pioneer: 132 030 | |||||||||
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© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins | |