Why would you want to visit Hobart, Tasmania? A better question would be, "Why wouldn’t you?" After Sydney Hobart is the oldest city in Australia with much of its history going back as early as 1803. It is the capital city of Tasmania and major transportation link to the mainland, so combines its old world charm with modern amenities. You can stay in a Hobart accommodation that dates back to the 19th century, but is luxuriously appointed, giving you a feeling of living in two eras at once. These are just a few of the reasons why you don’t want to miss Hobart.
Back in 1804, when Lieutenant Governor Collins started the first settlement in what is now Hobart, his vision for the island was not a glorious one. Britain and Ireland saw the island as a perfect place to house their criminal populations and the bulk of the first settlers arrived in Hobart in chains. But many of these were what we would call political prisoners today. They were idealistic young Irishmen who were stirring up trouble calling for an independent Ireland. It wasn’t long, though, before the island’s natural resources and the city’s deep water harbor were discovered and exploited by the free settlers who followed the convicts, looking for a new life. These free settlers began the first export trade on the island, with wool and timber being two of the main exports.
Originally called Van Diemen’s Land but was then changed to Tasmania in 1856. The name change was largely an attempt to put its penal colony past behind it. By then, the major construction in Hobart centered around the wharf and the Derwent River and many of the original buildings around the Wharf Docks remain standing. Although Sydney is older than Hobart, the Wharf Docks retain their old world atmosphere more than their Sydney equivalent. While there are plenty of wonderful "gentrified" restaurants and cafes to relax in, it is still a busy wharf, with fishing boats entering and leaving the wharf throughout the week.
Near the Wharf Docks, you’ll find Salamander Place. Here the warehouses and other buildings have been converted into souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.
Tasmania’s convict history remains evident everywhere both in and around Hobart and in fact has become one of Hobart’s tourist attractions. Regular tours of infamous prisons such as the Port Arthur Historic Site can be found within a short drive or bus tour from the center of the city. Others, like the chilling Female Factory, where hundreds of women and children endured almost unimaginable hardship from 1828 to 1877, are within the city limits themselves.
The penal colony era, though, is in Tasmania’s past. Nowadays, people come to Hobart from all around the world voluntarily to enjoy its unspoiled natural beauty. From here, it takes no time at all to be surrounded by nature at its finest. The best time of the year to visit is during the warmest summer months of December and January. This is the time of year when the world famous Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is held, so make your Hobart accommodation bookings early. The city is alive with excitement during this time of year.
