The City of Launceston is famous for its living examples of provincial colonial architecture and the Batman Fawkner is a prime exhibit. Originally built in 1824, it is thought to be the oldest brick building in the city.

It was within these walls in 1835 that John Batman and his friends agreed to cross Bass Strait and establish a "village" that some time after became the City of Melbourne. From here too, the abolitionist movement was launched in 1850.