Hobart - Capital of Tasmania

Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is Australia’s second-oldest city after
Sydney. Its European history began in 1803 when Lieutenant John Bowen
established a small settlement at Risdon Cove on the eastern shore of the River
Derwent. Due to poor conditions, the settlement was relocated in 1804 to
Sullivan’s Cove under the leadership of Lieutenant-Governor David Collins,
marking the true founding of Hobart Town.
In its early decades, Hobart was shaped heavily by the convict system. Many of
Tasmania’s most significant colonial buildings—warehouses, cottages, and public
works—were constructed by transported prisoners. The city grew as a strategic
port for whaling, sealing, and trade, with the deep Derwent Harbour offering one
of the Southern Hemisphere’s best anchorages.
By the mid-19th century, Hobart evolved from a penal outpost to a thriving
commercial centre. Its leafy streets, stone buildings, and waterfront reflected both
British influence and the region’s maritime character. Hobart played a key role in
Antarctic exploration, becoming a gateway for expeditions.
Today, Hobart blends its preserved colonial heritage with modern culture,
including the famous Salamanca Place, the historic Battery Point, and the
internationally renowned MONA museum—making it one of Australia’s most
distinctive and scenic cities.