The George Town region has been inhabited by
Aboriginal Tasmanians since, at least, 7000 BP and possibly as long ago as 43000 BP.
European settlement Early observation of the
Tamar River occurred in 1798 when
Bass and
Flinders sailed into the river during their
circumnavigation of Tasmania. The estuarine river was named Port Dalrymple and the location that would become George Town was referred to as Outer Cove.
William Collins, in January 1804, led an 18-day exploration of the river to determine the best site for a settlement. In November 1804, Colonel
William Paterson arrived with four ships with 181 people, convicts, soldiers, and one free settler and the settlement was established at Outer Cove. Subsequently the main settlement moved to the west arm of the river and then to the river head, some 50 km south, named
Launceston. When, in 1811, Governor-In-Chief
Lachlan Macquarie toured Tasmania he moved the settlement back to Outer Cove and named it George Town after
King George III. The populace were reluctant to relocate and building the town in earnest did not begin until 1819. Because of the needs of maintaining a defensible position at the mouth of the river, regardless of the notional main settlement location, the George Town area has been continuously occupied since 1804, making it one of the earliest European settlements in Australia.
Early communications 1822 – George Town Post Office opened, Mr. W Brown is appointed postmaster on 11 October 1822 1825 –
Tamar Valley semaphore system 1869 – Eastern Extension Telegraph Cable connects Tasmania to the Australian mainland ==Geography and landmarks==