Salamanca Place is a historic docks area of Hobart lined with a long row of simple Georgian sandstone warehouses built in the 1830s. These mellow north-facing buildings once stored grain, wool, whale oil, apples and imported goods from around the world. Rows of Georgian era sandstone warehouses that once serviced the ocean going clippers have been converted into a plaza of restaurants and shop, with pubs, artists, galleries, craft shops and nightlife adding to the relaxed atmosphere of the place after sundown.
Retaining the character of a Cornish fishing village of the last century, the inner Hobart suburb of Battery Point began life as a home for mariners who worked out of Hobart Town. It is still mainly a residential area, with many historic homes and shops, some which are open for inspection as folk museums and art galleries. Battery Point is named after the three defence batteries that were built at various times on the point of land that is today’s park. They were statements of British territorial claim, a warning to foreign shipping and in the early days, a deterrent for convicts who hoped to steal an escape vessel. The batteries were also used for ceremonial purposes.
The Cascades Female Factory was a former Australian workhouse for female convicts in the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. The facility operated in South Hobart from 1828 to 1856. After it ceased operation as a female factory in 1856, it continued as a gaol under the administration of local authorities from 1856 until 1877. Locstion: 16 Degraves Street, South Hobart. The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is one of 11 convict sites that together form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property. Collectively these sites represent an exceptional example of the forced migration of convicts and an extraordinary example of global developments associated with punishment and reform. Representing the female convict experience, the Cascades Female Factory demonstrates how transportation was used to expand Britain’s spheres of influence, and ultimately led to building the Australian nation as we know it today.
Narryna is a handsome Georgian house set in a picturesque, old-world setting. The museum houses many unique and rare items from Tasmania's colonial past. Each room contains items that represent life for a wealthy merchant in Hobart, as well as showcasing many items complementing the domestic duties that were carried out by servants. Narryna also has one of the largest costume collections in the Southern Hemisphere. Costumes are rotated regularly throughout the museum and represent the clothes worn by women of the period. Location: 103 Hampden Road, Battery Point. Phone (03) 6234 2791.
The home to Tasmania's state art and historical artefacts collection, Tasmania's state museum and art gallery was established in the 1840s as the museum of the Royal Society of Tasmania. The buildings and site are of historical significance and include the first purpose built museum building dated 1863. The collections include Natural Sciences (Zoology, Botany, Geology), Applied Science, Humanities (Art, Decorative Arts, Costume, Social History, Indigenous Cultures, Numismatics, Photographs, Documents and Ephemera) and Library. Free admission, except for some special exhibitions. Contact: (03) 6165 7000; recorded information (03) 6211 4114. Location: Dunn Place, Hobart.
Displaying Tasmania's rich maritime heritage. The Museum's collection includes historic items, paintings and ships models. The displays cover the exploits of early explorers, the whaling industry, stories of trading barges and ferries in the everyday life of days now gone, and the central role of sailing ships and steam ships in the export of apples, minerals and timber. Entry fees apply. The Museum operates 2-hour Port Walk guided walking tours which take in The Maritime Museum, Colonial Gallery (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery), Hunter Island, Victoria Dock, Constitution Dock and the ketch, May Queen, Mawson Place, Waterman's Dock, Salamanca Place and Abel Tasman Memorial (charges apply, bookings essential). Contact: (03) 6234 1427. Location: Carnegie House, 16 Argyle Street, Sullivans Cove, Hobart.
The Mawson's Huts Replica Museum stands on the waterfront in Hobart, near the wharf from which the SY Aurora sailed south to Antarctica with Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14 on board. It was the pre-eminent scientific expedition of its time to South Polar regions. Mawson's Huts represent the only in-situ evidence of early Australian Antarctic research. The museum gives visitors an historic insight into the daily lives of the AAE expeditioners who spent two winters living and working in the windiest place on Earth.
Anglesea Barracks is the oldest military establishment in Australia. Built in 1811, this is the oldest military establishment in Australia. Many of the buildings have been restored and the external grounds are open to the public. Access to the interior of the barracks is limited to one tour per week as the Australian Army still uses the facility. The tour incorporates the hospital (now commander's residence), the original officers' quarters and mess, various military memorials, the old drill hall and the jail, which is now the 6th Military District Museum. Contact: (03) 6237 7160. Location: Barrack Street, Street, Hobart.
Henry Allport bequeathed the contents of the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts to the people of Tasmania in 1965. Convict artists and the work of many colonial landscape artists are a feature of the collection. The Allport Library contains almost 6000 books and pamphlets. The Gallery presents several exhibitions a year showing artwork and other items from the collections. Disabled access available. Location: State Library of Tasmania, Ground Floor, 91 Murray Street, Hobart. Contact: (03) 6233 7484.
Displays a collection of approximately 800 Greek vases. The Museum's collection contains representative examples of the art and culture of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Greece, Etruria and Rome. Collection is the realisation of the vision in 1954 of the then Professor of Classics, JR. Elliott, to create a collection which would both serve as a teaching adjunct to the courses in the Department of History and Classics and provide an exhibition of original antiquities accessible to all Tasmanians. Contact: (03) 6226 2235. Location: University of Tasmania, University Centre, Churchill Avenue, Hobart.
The Penitentiary Chapel Historic Site on the corner of Brisbane and Campbell Streets was one building that Colonial Architect and Civil Engineer John Lee Archer designed to cleverly fulfill the answer to several problems. By 1829 St. David's Church in Hobart Town was becoming so overcrowded that a second Anglican church was needed to enable the free inhabitants to worship in comfort, especially those who now lived in the outer regions of the town. But more importantly it was felt that a place for worship and religious instruction for the vastly increasing numbers of arriving convicts was long overdue.
In March 1804, Governor Collins announced in his general orders that a Government Farm was to be established at what he called Farm Bay but what is now called Cornelian Bay. The Cornelian Bay site became the Government Farm, to be manned by convicts with overseers and tasked with supplying fresh vegetables and other produce for the first residents of Hobart Town. By 1805, Collins was able to report that a good crop of wheat was expected at the farm. The farm was manned by 30 convicts who had the particular agricultural skills to make the most of the new farm area and as such the farm was to become the central agricultural enterprise in the colony for a number of years. There was a larger area under cultivation than at any of the settler s farms at the time.
Looking at the art used to be boring. It still is, maybe, but at least here at Mona, the Museum of Old and New Art, you can get drunk and/or rage against the machine. Located just up the river from Hobart, Mona's subterranean architecture showcases the highlights (and lowlights) of David Walsh’s $110m private collection of art and antiquities, as well as hosting a busy exhibitions program. Mona is also home to the Moorilla winery, Source Restaurant, bars, cafe, accommodation pavilions and more (plus Moo Brew, an off-site brewery).
Tasmanian Transport Museum contains many historical items and memorabilia relating to Tasmania's transport history. The museum exhibits include railway locomotives, railmotors, carriages and wagons, trams, trolley buses, motor buses, stationary steam engines and many other items of historical interest. There is also a display of historical photographs and other small objects. Diesel hauled train trips are run at the museum twice a month, on the first and third Sunday. Entry fees apply. Contact: 0428 386 843 or (03) 6272 7721. Location: Anfield St, Glenorchy. How to get there: by car, north from Hobart on the Brooker Hwy, take the Elwick Rd, Glenorchy exit, right into Grove Rd, left into Anfield St; by bus, Metro Bus No. 15, 16.
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