Perth, Tasmania
| Perth Tasmania | |
|---|---|
 Post Office in Perth, Tasmania | |
| Population | 2,239 (2006 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 7300 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Northern Midlands Council |
| State electorate(s) | Lyons |
| Federal division(s) | Lyons |
Perth is a town in northern Tasmania, Australia. It lies 20 km south of Launceston, on the Midland Highway. The town has a population of 2,239 and is averaging a 1% increase per year (2001 census). Perth is part of the Northern Midlands Council. Former Federal Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson also has an office in the town. At the 2006 census, Perth had a population of 2,239.[1]
It is the first major town out of Launceston on the route to Hobart, and also serves as a major junction for people bypassing Launceston on the route from Hobart to the northwest of the state.
Like nearby Longford, Perth is a historic town with many buildings dating back to the early 19th century.
Historical event of note
In 1837, five years after the practice ceased in England, the body of John McKay was gibbetted near the spot where he murdered Joseph Wilson near Perth.[2] There was great outcry, but the body was not removed until an acquaintance of Wilson passed the spot and horrified by the spectacle of McKay's rotting corpse, pleaded with the authorities to remove it.
The location is still marked by a sign reading, "Gibbet Hill" on the right when heading to Launceston.
This was the last case of gibbeting in a British colony.
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Perth (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ Pedder C.J., Rex v. McKay and Lamb (Supreme Court of Van Diemen's Land), originally published Hobart Town Courier, 5 May 1837, republished by the Division of Law, Macquarie University and the School of History and Classics, University of Tasmania in Decisions of the Nineteenth Century Tasmanian Superior Courts. Accessed 19 December 2007.
External links
- Map showing Perth's location and that of Gibbet Hill (maps.google.com.au)