102-year-old clock could be stopped in Tasmania because noise is driving tourists away
A Tasmanian city that attracts more than 100,000 Brits each year is planning to stop its 102-year-old clock from chiming at night, because the noise has been driving tourists away.
Hoteliers and some councillors in Launceston, one of Australia's oldest cities, want the clock silenced between 11pm and 6am. They say the chimes – which can be heard across the city – are leaving a "bad taste" with tourists, many of whom stay in a cluster of hotels and serviced apartments around the clock tower.
Launceston, which has a population of 100,000, is the second-biggest city in Tasmania and a popular gateway to the island's wineries and walking trails. It attracts more than half a million visitors a year, including more than 100,000 from Britain.
The clock, installed in 1909 above the General Post Office, is a recognisable feature of the city's skyline – and soundscape. The 3.5 tonne clock, which has five bells, was bought to mark the city's centenary by a group of locals who raised £1,050 to import it from the English firm Gillett and Johnston Ltd...