Tassie town top spot for a sea change

A SMALL Tasmanian town has been named one of the most sought-after destinations in Australia.
The picturesque seaside town of Low Head, on the north coast at the mouth of the Tamar River, is among a monthly magazine’s “top 10 most desirable towns for a sea change”.
The Wish magazine, published monthly in The Australian newspaper, ranks Low Head at No. 6 — the only Tasmanian town on the list.
With a population of fewer than 1000, Low Head has the deserted beaches and quiet lifestyle deemed essential for the sea changer.
Low Head Progress Association vice-president Merv Whybrow said the town was a seaside haven which had long been a favourite spot among Launceston retirees. While the town has no major services or retail strip, it is only 5km from George Town. “We are well serviced in our little paradise,” Mr Whybrow said. The town also abounds with history, with a lighthouse and pilot station dating back to the 1800s.
Real estate consultant Andrew Michieletto said homes in Low Head had undergone a boom in the past few years. “It’s rather expensive and it’s getting more popular,” said Mr Michieletto, from real estate agency Harcourts Tamar. He said a house with spectacular views recently sold for just under $700,000. “Low Head is expensive because it’s right near the ocean and has a quiet atmosphere,” he said. Mr Michieletto said the town was popular because of its beaches, with both a safe swimming beach for families and a surf beach.
Wish magazine’s list of top 10 sea change destinations was based on employment rates, housing affordability and demographic information obtained from demographer Bernard Salt, the National Seachange Taskforce and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

http://www.themercury.news.com.au/

The Airport History

Original Airport

The Mercury - Saturday 29 May 1937
USED FOR FIRST TIME
Emergency Landing Ground
At George Town
A.N.A. Machine Lands
Another link was forged in aviation history in Tasmania yesterday, when the Umbrella Flats emergency landing ground, about five miles east of George Town, was used for the first time by an aeroplane on a regular run. The Dragon RapideMemma, one of the Australian National Airways machines, landed on the aerodrome after a flight from Flinders Island,
Heavy rainstorms and poor visibility made the Western Junction aerodrome unsuitable for the landing of any machines during the afternoon. The Loongana made the flight from Cambridge in the morning, and later left Western Junction for Melbourne.
The return trip was started at 2 p.m., but when adverse reports were received from the northern aerodrome, it was decided to continue the flight to Cambridge aerodrome direct. The machine flew down the East Coast route, and reached Hobart about 4.30 p.m. Considering the extremely bad weather conditions, this was an excellent performance.
The Memma flew to Flinders Island yesterday morning, and began the return flight to Western Junction, but it was deemed advisable to make use of the Umbrella Flats emergency landing ground, and the machine landed there without any trouble. She was refuelled during the day, and it is hoped to despatch her from that place at 7 a.m. today for King Island.
Mr. G. K. Maynard, an Australian National Airways officer, stated at Launceston last night that he was convinced that the emergency field could be used without any trouble by machines of the Dragon type. The landing during the day had demonstrated its usefulness.

kindly provided by:
George Town and District Historical Society

Current Airport

Brief Summary
The new George Town airstrip was instigated by the George Town Chamber of Commerce with help from the Tasmanian Aero Club.

 The George Town Airport Association was formed and investigations and planning started during 1968. The strip was opened in April 1973 by the Minister for Transport, Mr Batt. Lindsay Miller, one of the hardworking volunteers, landed the first plane on the day.
The first strip was 750m by 100m wide.

The George Town Council took ownership of the strip in 1993/94 and now leases it to another Airport Association. Eugene Reid also runs Freedom Flight Recreational Flying School business there.

Several improvements have been made over the years and it now has a sealed strip, longer and wider and a cross strip on one end. Several hangers are now built there.

kindly provided by:
George Town and District Historical Society