Hobart, Australia

The state capital of Tasmania, Australia, Hobart is a city of 191,169 (census 2001) people on the estuary of the Derwent River in the state's south-east.

Located largely on steep hills up to the often snow-covered peak of Mt. Wellington (approximately 1270 metres high), this picturesque little city is a busy seaport, notably serving as the home port for Australia's Antarctic activities, and supports several secondary industries (notably including a high-speed catamaran factory and a zinc smelter) as well as a vibrant tourist industry. Visitors come to the city to explore its historic inner suburbs, to visit the weekly craft market in Salamanca Place, as well as to use the town as a base from which to explore the rest of Tasmania.

Other local attractions include the Cadbury factory, and for a day trip places like Port Arthur, and the tesellated pavement, the Huon Valley, the Tahune Forest Air Walk, Cockle Bay( the southernmost point reachable by car) and the walk to South Cape Bay Beach which also forms part of a 6 day walk to South Western Tasmania.

Hobart is internationally famous among the yachting fraternity as the finish of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which starts in Sydney on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day).

History

Hobart is the second-oldest city in Australia (behind Sydney) and was started in 1803 as a penal settlement was started out in Risdon Cove on the eastern shores of the Derwent River. A few years later it was moved to a better location at the present site of Hobart at Sullivan's Cove. Hobart's original inhabitants were members of the semi-nomadic Mouheneer tribe but were moved out for the establishment of Hobart Town which started out as a collection of huts and tents. But since the Derwent River was one of Australia's finest deepwater ports, it rapidly grew into a major port, and became a city in 1842.

The penal colony was removed since new settlers were establkishing farms and houses and did not like mixing with prisoners. Penal colonies were then moved to places such as Maria Island and Port Arthur. Hobart Town was renamed Hobart in 1875. (history needed here, including penal colony, seal and whalers, postwar economic decline)