The town gets its name from the administrator of Tasmania during 1846-47, Charles Joseph Latrobe. The first European settler arrived in the area in 1826, and the village of Latrobe was founded in 1850 with a tramway linking it to Devonport (Formby) in 1855. A rail line from Deloraine was commenced in 1871 but was never completed.

A court house was built in 1883, but today serves as a museum. The railway finally arrived in Latrobe in 1885 and linked the town to Launceston and Devonport. Latrobe was the largest town in the north west coastal region in the 1880s.

The first Latrobe Wheel Race was held in 1896 when the Latrobe Cycle Club was established. The first axemen's carnival was held here in 1891, and served as the "world championships" for the sport. Today Latrobe is an historic town in the centre of a major orcharding and cropping area, 9 kilometres from Devonport, and it is also renowned for its variety of high class restaurants.


Museums and Historic sites

Latrobe retains much of the Colonial and Georgian style architecture in the form of cottages and mansions which offer superb first class accommodation. The Courthouse Museum displays local artefacts of historical importance. Visit the Sheean Memorial, erected in honour of the town hero. You will also find the Galerie Chantilly and Cheyne Purdue Art School near Latrobe.

Natural Attractions

Enjoy the tranquillity of the Bell's Parade where leisurely picnics may be enjoyed by the banks of the meandering river. Visitors can use Latrobe as a base for exploring the Asbestos Range National Park, and the glorious golden beaches of Hawley and Shearwater.

Other Attractions

Enjoy high class cuisine at any of the restaurants in Latrobe, which has earned the name of "town of restaurants". A major event in the Latrobe calender is the Latrobe Wheel, a cycling race which has been an annual event since 1890, and which takes place in the summer during the Christmas Cycling and Athletic Carnival. Kart racing and speedway racing are also events which occur regularly in Latrobe.

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