Launceston Property Market Trends 7250 & City Highlights
Launceston, affectionately known as ‘Lonnie’ by the locals, is the perfect mix of country and city charms, with a bit of urban wilderness, heritage spots, and all the ingredients for an amazing tourist destination. With a good balance of farming and city life, Launceston is a picture-perfect city for both farmers and urbanites alike.
For those who are thinking of moving to the area, Launceston’s city highlights include the farmers’ market, art galleries, museums, and many more.
Check out Launceston mortgage brokers for home loan options in Lonnie and other parts of Tasmania.
Property Trends in Launceston
Launceston is a city in northern Tasmania, Australia, and like any other city, its property market experiences trends and fluctuations over time. The real estate market is robust, with increasing demand from home buyers and investors, and for a good reason!
According to RealEstate.com, the median price of a house is $735,000, based on sales from March 2022 to February 2023. This shows a market increase of 1.4%. Launceston experienced its lowest price from September 2017 to August 2018, at $415,000. Not quite a bargain, but more affordable than most Australian capital cities.
If you’re looking for a 4-bedroom house, you would need to be prepared to make a bit of an investment, as the median price is $1,007,500. However, this is a 6.4% decrease compared to other years.
The rental price has also steadily increased from $320 weekly (April 2017 to March 2018) to $450 weekly (March 2022 to February 2023).
Launceston’s property market has steadily increased property prices over the past 5 years. A range of factors, including a shortage of available properties, increased demand from both local buyers and interstate investors, and low-interest rates, have driven this.
Launceston is a popular coastal hub for the state and has been featured as one of Australia’s top ten most liveable places.
General Information, Background, and History of Launceston
Launceston is a happy little riverside city in northern Tasmania, Australia. The city is in the nudge of the North Esk and South Esk Rivers, with views of beautiful hills and valleys.
The city was originally home to the Indigenous Nations, including the Tyerrernotepanner and Plangermaireener Peoples.
After European settlement, Launceston was established as a town in 1806 and became a city in 1824. As time went by, the city grew with the development of tourism, education, and manufacturing goods. Launceston is now a major regional centre for northern Tasmania, with a rich cultural heritage and diverse economy.
One of the main city highlights is that it is home to many historic buildings from the colonial era, such as the 1842 Customs House, the 1880s Town Hall, and the 1837 Holy Trinity Anglican Church. It is also known for its breathtaking parks and gardens, including City Park with a conservatory, a historic fountain, and a Japanese macaque enclosure. Lonnie was actually named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and the Saturday Farmers’ Market is one of the best in the nation.
Farming Activities Around Launceston
You can head over into the countryside to embrace a slower pace of life than the city. From cellar doors and farm gates to the farmer’s markets, there is a place for everyone to visit.
Swinging Gate Vineyard
This rustic cellar door allows you to taste creative wines with the farm dog, Nellie. The farm is in the Tamar Valley, just above the mist, with cool nights and warm days, perfect conditions for premium wine.
You can relax inside or settle in the sun as Doug, one of the vineyard’s owners, leads you through a tasting. Their wine is bottled before the first fermentation, which results in a glass of fizzy and light natural wine. If this interests you, Swinging Gate Vineyard is the place to try! Accommodations are also available.
Fork It Farm
The Fork It Farm focuses on sustainable and ethical farming practices. They use these practices to raise Berkshire pigs in the Tamar Valley. As their website says, “We keep it simple but insist on making it significant.”
They have a farm shop available, tours, and paddock picnics to book. You can also stay at the farm to experience beautiful moments all day and night.
The Farmers’ Market in Tamar Valley
The Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday in a car park. You can meet the farmers, speak with locals and enjoy the freshest produce, organic dairy, hormone-free meat, freshly-picked berries, apples, or freshly-baked bread and pastries.
You can indulge in coffee that was roasted not too far from the market and speak to various farmers to get a look into the farm lifestyle. This farmers’ market has been awarded Australia’s Most Outstanding Farmers Market in the 2013 ABC Delicious Magazine Produce Awards
The Salt Sommelier
You can enjoy an immersive tour of the saltworks, which allows you to experience how natural energy is used to harvest pure sea salt flakes through a production process that is only known to Australia. The tour will educate you on the world of sea salt, the importance of it for our body and seasoning, its impact on flavour, and how it was in the middle of the rise/fall of empires.
You can also sample small bites of locally sourced produce with sea salt. Children under the age of 10 are free of charge, but the Mayfield wine add-ons are strictly for 18 years and older.
Truffledore
Truffledore offers a range of farm experiences, such as truffle hunts with their dog and farm tours. The farm runs truffle harvesting during winter, so book in advance! They also have a farm-gate shop, as well as farm stays. Truffledore also has special events throughout the year, so keep an eye out on their website.
Things to Do in Launceston
Lonnie is home to many tourist attractions. From gorgeous sights, majestic nature, and delicious food, here’s the lowdown on what to do when you’re in town.
- Low Head Penguin Colony Tour- Tasmania is home to Little Penguins colonies, which are just 40cm tall, making them the smallest penguin species in the world. You can book a penguin-watching tour, including a bookable bus transfer from Launceston. This is a rewarding experience, as well as environmentally friendly, as you watch the penguins go about their day.
- Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery- This is Australia’s largest regional museum, which has a colonial art collection, planetarium, blacksmith shop, and an ongoing exhibition with the extinct Tasmanian tiger. The exhibitions have diverse topics, such as spiders and yarnbombing, and the First Tasmanians exhibition shows the story of the rich culture and history of Tasmania.
- Saint John Craft Beer- Not only does Launceston have many vineyards, but they are also home to an amazing craft beer scene. St John is one of the originals, and they offer up to 14 taps and 170 bottled beer varieties. The staff are super friendly and are happy to educate you on everything beer. There is also a street food caravan that serves a range of snacks and burgers in the evening.
- Cataract George- This is an urban reserve of cliffs and bushland with hiking trails for visitors. It is just a short walk from the Launceston centre along the North Esk River. If you’re lucky, you will get to see pademelons and peacocks. It is a great outdoor adventure, and you can finish the day off at the Gorge restaurant.
What Is the Population of Launceston?
The discovery of gold in nearby areas prompted the growth of Launceston during the 19th century. This resulted in the arrival of many settlers from Ireland, Scotland, and England. By 1827, the population went up to 2000, and it became an export centre.
This was when small breweries and hotels began to emerge, and larger hotels were built in the 1830s. Churches, schools, sporting groups, and political groups were established in these hotels before other buildings were around. These hotels also hosted musicals, readings, and plays before theatres were built.
In 2006, Launceston’s population was 71,395. Fast-track to 2023, it is now estimated to be at 77,106, which shows a 0.33% growth per year.
Launceston is surrounded by beautiful countryside, which has led to an increasing demand for lifestyle properties such as rural homes and farms. These properties offer a quieter, more peaceful lifestyle and are popular with local buyers and interstate investors.
How Far Is Launceston From
Planning to travel? Here is the distance from Launceston to these common cities:
- Hobart- 201,3km (2 hours, 27 minutes)
- Melbourne- 620,6km (13 hours, 14 minutes)
- Cradle Mountain- 148.8km (2 hours, 8 minutes)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Launceston a nice place to live?
Yes. Apart from the favourable property prices, the city is also home to a good education system with state-of-the-art facilities and an innovative food scene.