johns106

My parents retired to George Town, couple years on still love it. Yes the town has seen its share of tough times economically with the downturn to manufacturing and industry in Bell Bay affecting jobs, then Housing Tasmania buying up former company workers cottages cheap to put commission tenants in, but that has stopped and things are improving. The natural area is stunning - peaceful river, beautiful low head pilot station, light house and surf beach, and many historical buildings in town (third oldest settlement in Australia after Sydney and Hobart). Property is very reasonably priced, there is a woolworths, IGA, chemist, post, health centre, coffee shops, bakeries, and its only 30 mins drive to Launceston for bigger shops and work if needs be. Yes, you have to pick your spot, there are some bogans and druggies, but that is true of many Launceston suburbs and across Tasmania. The best parts seem to be near the river down to pipe clay bay, york cove, town centre, esplanade up to low head. I hear the council is improving too with new renewable energy developments and less of the past 'we like it how it is/always been done this way/we close at 12pm' mentality that has held it back from being more of a tourist town that it has the potential to be.