In 2025, the township of Penguin will celebrate its 150th anniversary, coinciding with the iconic Big Penguin’s 50th birthday which was launched for the Centenary celebrations. On October 25th in 1875 the town of Penguin was officially proclaimed. The Government Gazette recorded the proclamation (see below). Penguin was in fact one of the later North West towns to be proclaimed behind Stanley, Ulverstone, Latrobe, Burnie, Wynyard, as well as Torquay & Formby which later merged to form Devonport.
The following historical Land map shows the various properties mentioned above which formed the initial town boundaries.
CELEBRATIONS IN 2025
The Penguin 150th Anniversary Committee is comprised of keen and engaged residents who will provide input on the celebrations and act as ambassadors to the wider community. We are actively seeking input from all sectors of the community, including youth, community groups and service organisations.
The 150th anniversary, “The Penguin 150”, will be a year-long salute encompassing a diverse array of community-led festivals, exhibitions, sporting and youth events and activities. It will culminate with a twilight Street Party on Saturday October 25th. These events will explore Penguin’s rich heritage and celebrate the evolution of the town’s vibrant and diverse population over the past 150 years. The celebrations will bring a richness and meaning to the community and allow us to see ourselves as custodians of its history and the land upon which Penguin was founded. The land and the people have a past that should be celebrated and a future that can be appreciated.
The expected outcomes from the Penguin 150 celebrations include:
Increased community engagement and participation.
Strengthened community cohesion and resilience.
Enhanced awareness of Penguin as a destination and appreciation of Penguin’s unique history.
Positive economic impact through increased tourism and local spending.
Much more information about the various events will be forthcoming in subsequent articles. Importantly, those who would like to be involved in the planning are encouraged to contact any of the following committee members regarding meeting details-
Casey Hiscutt casey.hiscutt@centralcoast.tas.gov.au
Leah Morrow leahm763@gmail.com
Leigh Gracie leigh.gracie@centralcoast.tas.gov.au
Craig Dunham craig.dunham@outlook.com or
0418559224
Article by Craig Dunham