Latrobe is a town in northern

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, Australia on the Mersey River. It is 8 km south-east of Devonport on the Bass Highway. It is the main centre of the Latrobe Council. At the 2006 census, Latrobe had a population of 2,843. By the 2016 census, this had increased to 4,169. The locality is in the Latrobe Council area, but with a mere 0.1% in the

Kentish Council Kentish Council is a local government body in Tasmania, situated in the north-west of the state, to the south and inland from Devonport. Kentish is classified as a rural local government area and has a population of 6,324, the major towns of ...

LGA.

History

The area was first settled by B. B. Thomas in 1826 and, in 1861, the settlement was named for Charles Joseph La Trobe (1801–1875), the administrator of the colony of Tasmania. ''La Trobe'' Post Office opened on 31 August 1860 and was renamed ''Latrobe'' in 1873. Latrobe has a museum based in the old court house.

Facilities

The

Mersey Community Hospital The Mersey Hospital is a public hospital at Latrobe near Devonport in Tasmania. Like the North West Regional Hospital, it is operated by the Tasmanian Health Service - North West Region, which is part of the Tasmanian government's Department of ...

is located in Latrobe. It is approximately a 100-bed hospital that provides services including: ambulatory and emergency, general adult medicine, general paediatric medicine, general surgery including orthopaedic, ear, nose and throat, ophthalmological, certain oncology services, limited rehabilitation services and allied health support. From 1 September 2008, the Hospital is owned by the Commonwealth and operated by the Tasmanian Government. The main shopping district can be found along Gilbert Street where a number of hotels, cafes, restaurants and shops call home, such a
Supa IGA
Latrobe has a chocolate factory specialising in Belgian chocolates. There are aged care facilities in Latrobe such as Uniting AgeWell Strathdevon Community. The Australian Axemans Hall of Fame showcasing Australia’s wood-chopping sporting champions is located on Bells Parade. The Big Platypus, one of

Australia's big things The big things of Australia are large structures, some of which are novelty architecture and some are sculptures. There are estimated to be over 230 such objects around the country. There are big things in every state and territory in Australi ...

, is outside the museum. Latrobe BigPlatypus

Following flooding in 2016, work began on a flood mitigation system for the town involving both a levee and diversion culvert. Construction began in 2022 and is slated to finish in mid 2023.

Sporting activities

Latrobe's Henley-on-Mersey Regatta held on Australia Day 26 January each year at Belles Parade consists of woodchopping, Ferret racing,

Triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the ...

, Iron Trial Strongman, Boat Race, Cherry Spitting and Gum boot throwing. The Christmas Carnival Series is a series of professional

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competi ...

and professional

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from t ...

events. The boxing day carnival (26 December) is held at the Latrobe Recreation Ground. This event also stages a woodchopping event.

Latrobe Football Club The Latrobe Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in the town of Latrobe in northern Tasmania. The club competed in the North West Football Union throughout the competition's entire existence from 1910 until 1986, and has ...

and Latrobe Cricket Club also utilize the Latrobe Recreation Oval. Latrobe Basketball Club play in the North West Basketball Union and play out of the Latrobe and Districts Youth Centre. Tennis is played at the Latrobe Tennis Club. Latrobe has a netball team that competes in the Devon Netball Association. Latrobe Speedway, a clay race track hosts Sprintcars, Street Stocks, AMCA Nationals, Bombers, Junior Sedans, Formula 500s, Modified Sedans, Karts, Wingless Sedans, Tassie Sixers, Speedcars, Caravan Derby and Demolition Derby.

Education

Education facilities include Latrobe Primary School, Latrobe High School, St. Patrick’s Catholic School and Geneva Christian College.

Notable people

* Darrel Baldock * Dolly Dalrymple * Michael Fieldpolitician * Christine Milnepolitician *

Teddy Sheean Edward "Teddy" Sheean, (28 December 1923 – 1 December 1942) was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy during the Second World War. Born in Tasmania, Sheean was employed as a farm labourer when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve ...

James Monaghan Dooley James Monaghan Dooley (1822–1891) was an Australian politician from 1 October 1872 until his death on 5 February 1891. James Monaghan Dooley was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. He came from a farming background, however he trained in Dub ...

- politician

References

External links

National Trust Tasmania - Images of Latrobe areaLatrobe Primary SchoolLatrobe High SchoolSt. Patrick’s Catholic School
{{authority control Localities of Latrobe Council 1826 establishments in Australia