Hobart

This week we are looking at Hobart, which is the capital of Australia’s island state of Tasmania, sits on the River Derwent. It has a population of around 56,000.

Nearby is Battery Point, a historic district with narrow lanes and colonial-era cottages. The city’s backdrop is 1,270m-high Mount Wellington, with sweeping views, plus hiking and cycling trails.

Battery Point is Hobart’s first suburb, and widely regarded as the best-preserved colonial-era suburb in Australia.

The Muwinina people are the traditional owners of Hobart, Tasmania. They are one of the four distinct groups of Tasmanian Aboriginal people who lived in southern Tasmania, along with the Nuenonne, Mellukerdee, and Lyluequonny. The Muwinina were known as the “South East People”. The city of Hobart is situated on land that was once the domain of the Muwinina for thousands of years. 

Hobart is Australia’s second-oldest capital city, it was founded in 1804 as a British penal colony, by Lt-Governor Collins. Initially named Hobart Town, it grew from a small settlement to a significant port, driven by industries like whaling and shipbuilding. 

Hobart served as a penal colony, with a significant influx of convicts and a growing reliance on industries like whaling and shipbuilding. 

In 1811 Governor Macquarie ordered a town plan for Hobart, which was developing rapidly, with hotels, shops, and other establishments. 

The 1820s saw increased development with more efficient administrators and a growing number of free settlers and ex-convicts. 

The town became a municipality in 1852 and in 1857 it was designated a secular city. It was in 1881 that the “Town” was formally dropped from its name, leaving it as simply “Hobart”. 

Today, Hobart is a vibrant city with a thriving cultural scene, including the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). It also boasts a dynamic food scene and the famous Salamanca Market. 

Hobart is one of the best places to visit during Summer, with average temperatures ranging from 11.5 – 21°C (52.7 – 69.8°F). The months of January and February are also the driest, and beaches are warm enough to swim. 

Autumn has many calm, sunny days, with average temperatures between 8.9 – 17.3°C (48 – 63.1°F). The city is blanketed in deep red and yellow hues as the trees begin to change.

During Winter the island feels the southerly winds from the Antarctic and experiences some of Australia’s coolest temperatures. Mount Wellington is dotted with snow and average daily temperatures range from 5 – 12.3°C (41 – 54.1°F). Overnight temperatures can drop as low as 3°C (37.4°F).

In Spring, average temperatures range from 7.8 – 16.9°C (46 – 62.4°F). This is the wettest time of year (168.7mm / 6.6 inches), however it should be noted that Hobart is Australia’s second-driest capital city (after Adelaide).