Latrobe, Tasmania
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Australian place
Latrobe is a town in north-western Tasmania, 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.<ref name=Census2006Y>Template:Census 2006 AUS</ref> By the 2016 census, this had increased to 4,169.<ref name=Census2016Y>Template:Census 2016 AUS</ref> The locality is in the Latrobe Council area, but with a mere 0.1% in the Kentish Council 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.<ref name = "Post Office">Template:Cite web</ref>
Latrobe has a museum based in the old court house.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
Latrobe has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), with very mild, slightly drier summers and cool, wetter winters. Average maxima vary from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in July while average minima fluctuate between Template:Convert in January and February and Template:Convert in July. Mean average annual precipitation is moderate, Template:Convert spread between 129.8 precipitation days. However, the town is not sunny, with 146.8 cloudy days and only 56.1 clear days per annum. Extreme temperatures have ranged from Template:Convert on 9 January 2010 to Template:Convert on 25 August 1991.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Climate data was sourced from the nearby Devonport Airport, while sun data was taken from Forthside.
Facilities
The Mersey Community Hospital 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 as Supa IGA.<ref>http://www.igatas.com.au/supa-iga-latrobe</ref>
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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> showcasing Australia's wood-chopping sporting champions is located on Bells Parade. The Big Platypus, one of Australia's big things, is outside the museum.
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 ended in 2023.
Sporting activities
Latrobe's Henley-on-Mersey Regatta<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> held on Australia Day 26 January each year at Belles Parade consists of woodchopping, Ferret racing, Triathlon, Iron Trial Strongman, Boat Race, Cherry Spitting and Gum boot throwing. The Christmas Carnival Series is a series of professional athletics and professional cycling events. The boxing day carnival (26 December) is held at the Latrobe Recreation Ground. This event also stages a woodchopping event. Latrobe Football Club and Latrobe Cricket Club<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> also utilize the Latrobe Recreation Ground. Latrobe Basketball Club play in the North West Basketball Union and play out of the Latrobe and Districts Youth Centre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 FieldTemplate:Spaced endashpolitician
- Christine MilneTemplate:Spaced endashpolitician
- Teddy Sheean
- James Monaghan Dooley - politician