City of Launceston
Encyclopedia
The City of Launceston is a Local Government Area of Tasmania
, encompassing about half of the greater Launceston
area in northern Tasmania. It also includes a region to the north east of Launceston, encompassing towns such as Lilydale
. The population residing in this area, 65,826, is the highest of any Local Government Area in Tasmania.
This area is governed by the Launceston City Council, led by a mayor
and eleven other aldermen. The current mayor is Albert Van Zetten
, who defeated Legislative Councillor Ivan Dean
in the 2007 council elections. Dean's predecessor, Janie Dickenson
, was, at the time of her election, the youngest female mayor in Australia. She was first elected mayor in February 2002 at the age of 27.
The City's logo features the Tasmanian tiger
, an indigenous animal once bountiful in the Launceston district but hunted to extinction.
In 1985, the Municipalities of Lilydale and St Leonards were amalgamated with the Launceston City Council, although the extensive suburban areas under the West Tamar and Meander Valley municipalities remained outside the City Council's jurisdiction. This has produced a local government area that overlaps its similarly named city, rather than either being contained by or encompassing it.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, encompassing about half of the greater Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
area in northern Tasmania. It also includes a region to the north east of Launceston, encompassing towns such as Lilydale
Lilydale, Tasmania
Lilydale, originally known as Germantown, is a small town in northern Tasmania, Australia. The town is northeast of Launceston and is a part of the Launceston municipality. It is located near Mount Arthur. At the 2006 census, Lilydale had a population of 288...
. The population residing in this area, 65,826, is the highest of any Local Government Area in Tasmania.
This area is governed by the Launceston City Council, led by a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and eleven other aldermen. The current mayor is Albert Van Zetten
Albert Van Zetten
Albert Van Zetten is an Australian politician and the current Mayor of Launceston, Tasmania. He is also the current CEO of City Mission Launceston. He lives in Launceston with his wife Lyndle....
, who defeated Legislative Councillor Ivan Dean
Ivan Dean
Ivan Noel Dean, APM , is an Australian politician. He has been an independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council since 2003, representing the electorate of Windermere. He also served as Mayor of Launceston from 2005 to 2007....
in the 2007 council elections. Dean's predecessor, Janie Dickenson
Janie Dickenson
Janie Finlay was the mayor of Launceston City Council from 2002 to 2005 before being replaced by Ivan Dean on 31 October 2005. She served as an Alderman 2000-2007. When Janie was elected as Mayor in February 2002 she was the youngest female mayor; at age 27, to serve in Australia...
, was, at the time of her election, the youngest female mayor in Australia. She was first elected mayor in February 2002 at the age of 27.
The City's logo features the Tasmanian tiger
Thylacine
The thylacine or ,also ;binomial name: Thylacinus cynocephalus, Greek for "dog-headed pouched one") was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger or the Tasmanian wolf...
, an indigenous animal once bountiful in the Launceston district but hunted to extinction.
History
Launceston was first declared as a municipality in 1853 and included only the city centre and immediate surrounds of Launceston. In the 1890s, the municipality grew to include Galvin Town (South Launceston) and in 1906 to include the northern suburbs of Invermay, Mowbray and Trevallyn. In 1908, the Municipalities of George Town, St Leonards, Lilydale, Evandale, Beaconsfield, Longford and Westbury were established.In 1985, the Municipalities of Lilydale and St Leonards were amalgamated with the Launceston City Council, although the extensive suburban areas under the West Tamar and Meander Valley municipalities remained outside the City Council's jurisdiction. This has produced a local government area that overlaps its similarly named city, rather than either being contained by or encompassing it.