No. 967 - George Town - Salvation Army Hall

George Town is one of the oldest towns in Australia and is the second oldest town in Tasmania. It is therefore unusual that most of the town’s churches were only established after World War Two. The emergence of Launceston as the administrative centre of the North in the early years of the colony meant that George Town was destined to remain a backwater until more recent times. The construction of an aluminium smelter at nearby Bell Bay in the 1950s as well as the development of industry south of the town, accelerated George Town’s population growth in the post-war era.

George Town’s Salvation Army Corp is located is located in Sorell Street. Two buildings stand on the site; a weatherboard hall, which accommodates a ‘thrift shop’ and a more recent cement brick hall which is a place of worship.

In 1953 George Town’s Methodist Church was moved from Bathurst Street to the Sorrel Street site. A hall (now the Salvation Army thrift shop) was built alongside the re located church. The Methodist’s sold the site following the establishment of the Uniting Church and the buildings were acquired by the Salvation Army. In 2010 the old Methodist church was removed to Cressy. The present cement brick hall was built in its place prior to the old church’s removal.

Additional information about the history of the Salvation Army at George Town is welcomed as all articles are continually updated. I can be contacted through this page or my Facebook page "Churches of Tasmania" which is linked here: Churches of Tasmania.

The former Methodist Hall - now a thrift shop.

The old Methodist church, once used by the Salvation Army before the building was removed to Cressy. Image credit: George Town Pictorial History Facebook Page - posted 14-09-17 - source of photograph not provided. .