Hobart Tourist Attractions
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Capital of TasmaniaThe most southerly city in Australia is Hobart, the Tasmanian capital. It is beautifully situated at the foot of Mount Wellington (1270m), straddling the estuary of the Derwent River, which here flows into the Tasman Sea.
History
Tasmania was first settled in 1803 and then experienced slow growth until 1825 when Hobart was a young thriving town. Mining activity increased growth in other towns as people flocked to the area.
Constitution Dock
Davey Street runs northeast along the harbor, which was and still is the hub of the city's life. Constitution Dock, now a boating harbor, attracts many visitors in the first week in January, when it is crowded with smart yachts after the annual Sydney to Hobart race.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has extensive collections illustrating the history of seafaring in the southern hemisphere and the development of whaling, Aboriginal culture and relics of the convict settlement. The art gallery displays mainly 19th C art as well as rare prints of different periods.
Customs House
The imposing Customs House (1902) features a neoclassical façade.
Franklin Square
Franklin Square is a trim public garden.
Town Hall
The Town Hall was built in 1864 to the design of Henry Hunter, an architect much influenced by Italian architecture. It occupies the site of a house built in 1804 by David Collins, founder of the town, as his official residence.
St David's Cathedral
The foundation stone of the handsome neo-Gothic sandstone St David's Cathedral (Anglican) was laid in 1868. It has beautiful stained glass.
Cat and Fiddle Arcade
The Cat and Fiddle Arcade is one of Hobart's busiest shopping streets. On the walls of the arcade are figures from nursery rhymes. Many tourists are attracted by the gem-cutting workshop, where attractive jewelry is on sale.
Elizabeth Street Mall
The Elizabeth Street Mall, north-east of the Cat and Fiddle Arcade, is a street full of temptations for shoppers.
State Library, Allport Library and Museum
North-west of the Cat and Fiddle Arcade, in Murray Street, is The State Library, with the Allport Library and Museum. The collection (art, furniture, silver, books and writings on Asia) was presented to the state by Henry Allport, whose ancestors had come to Tasmania in 1831. The State Library also contains the State Archives.
St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church (1836) is architecturally interesting. The adjoining Scots Church Hall, built 13 years earlier, is one of the oldest religious buildings in Tasmania.
Synagogue
The oriental-style synagogue, built in 1843, is Australia's oldest synagogue.
Theatre Royal
The Theatre Royal, designed by John Lee Archer, is an architectural jewel. The foundation stone was laid in 1834, making it the earliest theater in Australia. It has an impressive neoclassical façade and a charming interior (rebuilt after its destruction by fire in 1984). Many international stars have appeared in the Theatre Royal, which Lawrence Olivier rated 'the best little theater in the world'.
Penitentiary Chapel (Criminal Courts)
The former Penitentiary, with a chapel built by John Lee Archer in 1831, is now thoroughly restored. Few Georgian church buildings are as well preserved as this little chapel. In 1860 two wings of the Penitentiary were converted into the criminal courts, and still used until 1983. There are conducted tours of the cell blocks and the execution court.
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More Australia Resources
- Hobart tours and things to do by Viator
Map of Hobart Attractions
Map - Hobart
