Launceston Central... Your Guide to the City.
Hello to all of our wonderful businesses,
With new campaigns rolling out, activations taking shape, and plenty more on the horizon, it’s a great time to be in Launceston! With the changing season bringing fresh energy and growing momentum for local business across the city centre.
It was such a joy to officially launch our Launnie Long-standers campaign last week. The event was a heartfelt celebration of the businesses who have stood the test of time in our city, and a reminder of the strength and spirit within our business community.
A sincere thank you to the panellists who spoke so candidly. Your stories resonated deeply with the audience, and it was lovely to see so many people genuinely connected to your experiences. A very special thank you also to Kim Napier, who hosted the panel discussion with such warmth and energy. Her long-standing commitment to Launceston and its businesses truly shone on the night and helped create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.
The Launnie Long-standers campaign is now officially live. The dedicated category on our website has launched, and we’re currently working through the backend to ensure all eligible businesses are properly listed. In the city, the campaign billboard is now up in the Brisbane Street Mall, helping to direct people to explore the stories online. Our first blog features and business profiles are starting to roll out, and window decals are being delivered to long-standing businesses across the CBD.As we mentioned on the night, this is a long-term campaign. We’ve compiled a significant list of businesses already at or approaching their 10-year milestone, and we’ll continue to roll out stories across the year with more to come in future years as others reach the milestone. We’ll continue to share and promote the campaign across local media and social platforms to ensure these stories are widely celebrated.
We’ve had strong interest from local media, with ongoing conversations around the changing face of Launceston’s city centre. While it’s true that some businesses have downsized or moved on, there’s a great deal of positive momentum to highlight.
We pulled together a snapshot of new business activity over the past six months, and some key trends emerged:
Just some of the exciting new additions to our city centre also include:
All of this paints a picture of a city in transition and renewal. We’re seeing a mix of newcomers, relocations from across Tasmania, and passionate locals stepping into business ownership for the first time — all of which contribute to a growing, evolving city.
Our next big project on the horizon is the return of The Lounge, as we look to kick off winter in a big way and bring warmth, vibrancy, and connection back into the city centre.
The Lounge will once again transform an empty shopfront into a welcoming, creative community space, open to all. This year, we’re aiming to run the space for eight weeks during the cooler months and we’re currently seeking support to help bring it to life.
The Lounge was a true highlight of last winter and with your help, we can make it even better in 2025. If you're keen to be involved, please reach out to our team.
Madi Biggelaar
Interim Executive Officer
Launceston Central