Hobart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hobart Tasmania
Hobart City Centre and Mount Wellington General Post Office Parliament House of Tasmania Salamanca Place Cascade Brewery Museum of Old and New Art
Hobart Location in Australia
Population	252,639 (2023) (11th) 197,451 (urban) (2021)
• Density	145.7/km2 (377/sq mi) (2021)
Established	20 February 1804 (1804-02-20)
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Area	1,758.8 km2 (679.1 sq mi) (metropolitan)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT State: Tasmania. (UTC+11)
Location	38 km (24 mi) from Huonville 134 km (83 mi) from Swansea 198 km (123 mi) from Launceston 248 km (154 mi) from Queenstown 284 km (176 mi) from Devonport
LGA(s)	Cities City of Hobart City of Glenorchy City of Clarence Other LGAs Kingborough Council Brighton Council Sorell Council Derwent Valley Council
State electorate(s)	Clark Franklin Lyons
Federal Division(s)	Clark Franklin Lyons
Website	Hobart
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 17.6 °C 64 °F 9.0 °C 48 °F 565.3 mm 22.3 in

Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania, an island state in Australia. It is the biggest city in Tasmania. Hobart is located in the south-east of Tasmania, on the River Derwent. This makes it the southernmost capital city in Australia.

Even though it has almost half of Tasmania's population, Hobart is the smallest Australian state capital by population. Its skyline is famous for the tall kunanyi / Mount Wellington, which is 1,271 meters (4,170 feet) high. Hobart's harbour is also very deep, making it one of the deepest natural ports in the world. The larger area around the city is called Greater Hobart.

Before Europeans arrived, the local Muwinina people called this land nipaluna. This name included important places like kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the River Derwent (timtumili minanya). Aboriginal Tasmanians lived here for possibly as long as 35,000 years.

Hobart was started in 1804 as a British penal colony (a place where convicts were sent). This makes it Australia's second-oldest capital city, after Sydney. For a while, Hobart was a major port for whaling ships in the Southern Ocean. Today, Hobart is a busy center for finance and government in Tasmania. It is also a home port for Australian and French operations in Antarctica. Many tourists visit Hobart to see its old buildings, the Salamanca Market, and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

What's in a Name?

In 1804, the first leader, David Collins, named the settlement Hobart Town. He named it after Lord Hobart, who was an important British official at the time. The city's name was shortened to Hobart in 1881. People who live in Hobart are called Hobartians.

The local Aboriginal people, the Muwinina, called the area where the city is now nipaluna. This name was recorded in 1831. The river that flows through Hobart was known as timtumili minanya. These names show the deep history of the land before European settlement.

Hobart's Story: A Journey Through Time

The first European settlement in the area began in 1803 at Risdon Cove. The British were worried about French explorers in the area. Later in 1804, Captain David Collins moved the settlement to a better spot, which is where Hobart is today, at Sullivans Cove.

The original people of this area were the Mouheneener tribe. Sadly, many Aboriginal people were harmed by conflicts with European settlers and by diseases. In 1832, some Aboriginal leaders tried to make peace with the Governor, but they were later forced to move to Flinders Island.

Charles Darwin, a famous scientist, visited Hobart in 1836 on his ship, the Beagle. He wrote about how beautiful the area was. He noted that Hobart Town had about 13,826 people in 1835.

Hobart's port was very important for whaling and sealing in the South Seas. The town grew quickly because of this. Hobart Town officially became a city on August 21, 1842.

After convicts stopped being sent here, Hobart had times of growth and decline. In the late 1800s, tourism started to become popular. Important places like The University of Tasmania were also built. Mark Twain, a famous writer, visited in 1895 and called Hobart "the neatest town that the sun shines on."

A sad event happened in 1936 when the last known thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) died at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart. During WW2, Hobart prepared for attacks, and a Japanese plane even flew over in 1942.

In the mid-1900s, Hobart worked to become a tourist spot. The Hobart Airport opened in 1956. Australia's first legal casino, Wrest Point Hotel Casino, opened in 1973. However, Hobart also faced challenges. In 1967, big fires destroyed many homes. In 1975, the Tasman Bridge disaster happened when a ship hit the bridge, breaking it and cutting off the eastern suburbs.

In the 21st century, Hobart's economy has improved. The city has grown a lot, with new buildings and projects like the redevelopment of Macquarie Point.

Hobart's Landscape and Nature

Hobart's Shape and Surroundings

Hobart is built along the River Derwent estuary. It sits on hills and valleys, with the river winding through it. The western side of the city stretches from the Derwent Valley up to tall mountains like kunanyi / Mount Wellington. The eastern side of the city spreads out from the river towards flatter areas like Bellerive.

Hobart has many beautiful beaches. Some are inside the Derwent estuary, like Long Beach and Bellerive Beach. Others are on Frederick Henry Bay, such as Seven Mile Beach.

Plants and Animals of Hobart

Hobart is home to many unique plants and animals. The Meehan Range and Wellington Ranges are important places for Tasmanian birds. You can find special trees like the Risdon peppermint and Eucalyptus morrisbyi here. Other common trees include blue gum and blue wattle.

Many threatened animals live in Hobart, including the swift parrot and the eastern quoll. You might often see pademelons and wallabies around the city. Platypuses live in the Hobart Rivulet. Slower driving speeds help protect these animals from being hit by cars.

On kunanyi / Mt Wellington, you can still find very old stringybark trees. There's also a rare patch of Tasmanian rainforest near Collinsvale.

Hobart's Weather and Climate

Hobart has a mild oceanic climate, meaning it has cool summers and mild winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 41.8°C (107.2°F) in January 2013. The lowest was -2.8°C (27°F) in June 1972 and July 1981.

Hobart doesn't get much snow in the city itself, maybe once every five years. This is because of the mountains that block the snow. However, kunanyi / Mount Wellington often has snow on its top throughout the year. Light frost can happen sometimes, but not every year.

Hobart has the fewest sunny hours per day compared to other major Australian cities, with only 5.9 hours. But in summer, it has the most daylight hours of any Australian city, with 15.3 hours on the longest day.

Climate data for Hobart
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average sea temperature °C (°F)	16.9 (62.4)	16.4 (61.5)	16.4 (61.5)	15.4 (59.7)	14.6 (58.3)	13.6 (56.5)	12.9 (55.2)	12.7 (54.9)	12.7 (54.9)	13.1 (55.6)	14.4 (57.9)	15.9 (60.6)	14.6 (58.3)
Mean daily daylight hours	15.0	14.0	12.0	11.0	10.0	9.0	9.0	10.0	12.0	13.0	15.0	15.0	12.1
Average Ultraviolet index	11	9	6	4	2	1	1	2	4	6	8	10	5.3
Source: Weather Atlas, seatemperature.org

Exploring Hobart's Urban Areas

Parks and Green Spaces

Hobart has many natural areas, parks, and gardens. A big part of the city is covered in native bushland. The most famous is Wellington Park, which includes kunanyi / Mt Wellington and its forests. This area has many trails for walking, hiking, and mountain biking.

The city also has urban bushland areas like Queens Domain. Here you'll find the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which opened in 1818 and are very popular. The Hobart Cenotaph and sports facilities are also in this area. Parks on the eastern shore offer coastal walks and lookouts.

In the city center, there are many urban parks like St David's Park and Franklin Square. These green spaces offer places to relax and enjoy nature within the city.

Hobart's Buildings and Design

Hobart's buildings show different styles from Australian history. The city is known for its well-preserved buildings from the Georgian and Victorian eras. These old buildings give some areas a special "old world" feel.

The city center has some of Hobart's oldest buildings. These include the Hope and Anchor Tavern (1807) and Ingle Hall (1811–14). The Cascade Brewery (1824), Australia's oldest working brewery, was built by convicts. The Cascades Female Factory (1828), also built by convicts, is now a World Heritage Site.

Other important early buildings are Hadley's Orient Hotel (1834), Australia's oldest hotel, and the Theatre Royal (1837), Australia's oldest working theatre. The Lady Franklin Gallery (1843) was Australia's first private museum. The Hobart Synagogue (1845) is Australia's oldest synagogue. Salamanca Place has many old Georgian buildings.

Many historic churches are in Hobart. St David's Cathedral, the city's first, was opened in 1874. Newer buildings include the GPO (1905) and the Hobart City Hall (1915). Hobart also has many Art Deco buildings from the 1930s. The Wrest Point Casino (1973) is the tallest building in Tasmania.

Modern buildings have also been added, like the Hotel Grand Chancellor (1987). Recent projects include the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment and new buildings for the University of Tasmania.

Homes and Neighborhoods

Hobart's housing has changed over time. In the early days, homes were small and close together in the city center. As public transport like railways and trams developed, the city grew outwards. Inner suburbs from this time have neat streets with shops and small homes.

Over the years, more suburban areas were built. Many homes were bungalows made of wood or fiber cement. Today, Hobart is a sprawling city, meaning it spreads out over a large area. This means many people rely on cars to get around.

Hobart is currently the least dense Australian capital. Housing costs can be high, especially in inner Hobart. The city is working on plans to build more homes and improve transport.

Hobart's Vibrant Culture

Since the 2000s, Hobart has become known as a "cool" and creative city. Many tourists visit because of its unique events and art, especially thanks to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). This is sometimes called the "MONA effect."

The city's nightlife is mainly in Salamanca Place, North Hobart, the waterfront, Elizabeth Street, and Sandy Bay. These areas have popular restaurants, pubs, bars, and nightclubs.

Theatre and Shows

Hobart's city center has several theatres. The Theatre Royal, built in 1837, is Australia's oldest continuously operating theatre. Another old theatre is the Playhouse Theatre, which was originally a chapel.

For movies, the State Cinema in North Hobart is a popular art-house cinema. It started as the North Hobart Picture Palace in 1913. The Hanging Garden area also hosts live music and comedy events.

Art and History Museums

Australia's first privately funded museum was the Lady Franklin Gallery, opened in 1843. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) opened in 1863 and has grown to include several historic buildings. The Maritime Museum Tasmania is also on the waterfront.

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) opened in 2011. It is located at the Moorilla winery. MONA is the Southern Hemisphere's largest privately owned museum. It holds the collection of David Walsh and is a major draw for visitors.

Books and Stories

The first book of general Australian literature was published in Hobart. It was about a bushranger named Michael Howe. The first Australian novel, Quintus Servinton, was also written and published in Hobart in 1831 by a convict named Henry Savery.

The State Library of Tasmania is in the city center. It has a large collection of old works and artifacts. In 2023, Hobart was named a UNESCO City of Literature.

Music Scene

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra performs at the Federation Concert Hall. Other places for live music include the Odeon Theatre and Hobart City Hall. Big national and international music events often happen at MyState Bank Arena or the Tasman Room at Wrest Point Hotel Casino.

Many famous musicians have come from Hobart, playing different styles of music. Brian Ritchie from the band Violent Femmes now lives in Hobart and helps organize the MONA FOMA arts festival.

Exciting Events

Hobart has many regular events. The Salamanca Market is a popular weekly market. Festivals include Taste of Tasmania, which celebrates local food and wine, and Dark Mofo, a big winter festival. Tasmania's international arts festival, Ten Days On The Island, also happens here.

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held every two years, celebrating wooden boats. It happens at the same time as the Royal Hobart Regatta, Tasmania's oldest sporting event, which started in 1830. The Hobart Show Day in October celebrates agriculture.

The Hobart International is an annual tennis tournament. Hobart is also the finish line for the Targa Tasmania rally car event and the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The arrival of the yachts is a big celebration during the Hobart Summer Festival.

Sports in Hobart

Hobart is home to many sports teams. Cricket is very popular. The Tasmanian Tigers cricket team and the Hobart Hurricanes play their home games at Bellerive Oval.

Australian rules football is also very popular. Hobart has four clubs in the Tasmanian Football League. Hobart has hosted Australian Football League (AFL) matches since 1991. Tasmania will soon have its own AFL team, the Tasmanian Devils, which will play in a new stadium at Macquarie Point.

The Tasmania JackJumpers basketball team joined the National Basketball League in 2021. Hobart is also famous for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which finishes in the city's port.

Media and News

Station	Frequency
Energy FM	87.8 FM	Commercial
Triple J	92.9 FM	Government funded
ABC Classic FM	93.9 FM	Government funded
Hobart FM	96.1 FM	Community
Edge Radio	99.3 FM	Community
hit100.9 Hobart	100.9 FM	Commercial
7HO FM	101.7 FM	Commercial
SBS Radio	105.7 FM	Government funded
Ultra106five	106.5 FM	Christian/narrowcast
Triple M Hobart	107.3 FM	Commercial
ABC Radio National	585 AM	Government funded
ABC NewsRadio	747 AM	Government funded
7RPH	864 AM	Community
936 ABC Hobart	936 AM	Government funded
TOTE Sport Radio	1080 AM	Racing/narrowcast
Rete Italia	1611 AM	Italian radio
NTC Radio Australia	1620 AM	Community

Hobart has five main free-to-air television stations: ABC Tasmania, SBS Tasmania, Southern Cross Seven Tasmania, WIN Television (Nine), and Tasmanian Digital Television (10). These stations offer many different channels.

Commercial radio stations include Triple M Hobart and hit100.9 Hobart. Community radio stations like Edge Radio and Hobart FM also broadcast. All the main ABC radio networks are available.

Hobart's main newspaper is The Mercury, which has been published since 1854.

Who Lives in Hobart?

In 2021, over 247,000 people lived in Greater Hobart. About 11,216 people (4.5%) are Indigenous Australians.

The most common backgrounds for people in Hobart are English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish. About 23.4% of the population was born overseas. The largest groups of people born overseas come from England, China, Nepal, India, and New Zealand.

Most people in Hobart (82.6%) speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin, Nepali, Punjabi, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.

Almost half of Hobart residents (49.9%) say they have no religion. Christianity is the largest religion (37.1%), with Anglican and Catholic being the biggest groups. Other religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.

Hobart's Economy: How People Make a Living

In Hobart, many people work in healthcare, public service, and retail. These industries bring in a lot of money for the city. Healthcare is growing the fastest.

Major shopping areas include the Elizabeth Street Mall in the city center, Northgate Shopping Centre in Glenorchy, and Eastlands Shopping Centre in Rosny Park, which is Tasmania's biggest.

Shipping is also important. Many cruise ships visit Hobart in the summer, bringing in a lot of money from tourists.

Tourism is a big part of Hobart's economy. Visitors come to see the historic suburbs, famous restaurants, and lively culture. The Salamanca Market and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) are major attractions. MONA has had a huge impact on tourism, bringing in millions of visitors.

Other important businesses include catamaran builder Incat, the zinc refinery Nyrstar Hobart, Cascade Brewery, and Cadbury's Chocolate Factory. Hobart's wine industry has also grown a lot in recent years.

Hobart: Gateway to Antarctica

Hobart is known as an Antarctic gateway city. This means it's a key starting point for trips to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Hobart's port helps supply scientific research ships and cruise ships. Hobart Airport also supports flights to Casey Station in Antarctica.

Hobart is the home port for Australia's and France's Antarctic programs. Many businesses and scientists in Hobart specialize in cold climate products and research.

Hobart has many important scientific groups focused on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. These include the Australian Antarctic Division and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.

Getting Around Hobart

Buses: Public Transport

The main way to get around Hobart using public transport is by Metro Tasmania buses. These buses are run by the Tasmanian Government. The main bus station is in the city center at the Hobart City Interchange.

There are also some private bus services, including the SkyBus to the airport. The government is planning to improve bus services to make them faster and more efficient.

Roads: Driving in the City

Hobart's transport mainly relies on roads. Key roads include the Brooker Highway to the northern suburbs and the Tasman Bridge and Bowen Bridge that cross the river to the Eastern Shore. The Southern Outlet goes south to Kingston.

These highways were built to handle more cars. However, this has led to more traffic. A new bridge, the New Bridgewater Bridge, is being built and will be finished by 2025. It will also have paths for walkers.

Ferries: Water Travel

There is a ferry service called Derwent Ferries that runs between Brooke Street Pier and Bellerive Quay. This ferry helps reduce traffic on the Tasman Bridge. More ferry stops are planned for the future.

Private tourist ferries, like the MONA Roma catamarans, take visitors to the Museum of Old and New Art. Ferries used to be a common way to travel across the river, but they stopped for many years.

Air Travel: Flying In and Out

Hobart Airport serves the city with flights to major Australian cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. There are also flights to New Zealand. The airport has been upgraded with new facilities.

Plans for the airport include a longer runway to allow international flights and more air traffic with Antarctica. This will help more people visit Hobart and connect it to the world.

Seaport: Ships and Boats

Hobart's main port is managed by TasPorts. It is used for many things. The Princes Wharves are used for ships going to Antarctica. There are also many places for sailing boats, fishing boats, and yachts. Cruise ships dock at Macquarie Point.

Rail: Trains in Hobart

While freight trains no longer run in Hobart itself, TasRail still operates a transport hub north of the city. You can see locomotives in Bridgewater.

Hobart used to have passenger trains and a tram network, but these were closed in the 1960s and 1970s. The old tram tracks can still be seen in some streets. The Tasmanian Transport Museum in Glenorchy has a restored section of track.

There is a strong interest in building a light rail network along existing tracks to help with traffic in Hobart. This would be a fast, efficient, and eco-friendly way to travel.

Hobart's Essential Services

Education and Learning

Greater Hobart has many schools, including primary, secondary, and colleges. These schools are public, Catholic, or private. The Department for Education, Children and Young People manages government schools. Libraries Tasmania runs libraries and literacy services, including the State Library of Tasmania.

Hobart is home to the main campus of the University of Tasmania. It has several colleges for students to live in. The university also has campuses in the Hobart City Centre for medical science and arts.

TasTAFE has seven campuses in Greater Hobart. They offer vocational education and training, which teaches practical skills for jobs.

Water and Power

TasWater manages drinking water and sewerage in Hobart. The city gets its water from reservoirs, as Hobart itself doesn't get a lot of rain. TasNetworks is in charge of providing electricity and telecommunications.

Famous People from Hobart

• Alanna Smith, a basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.
• Errol Flynn (1909–1959), a famous Hollywood film actor.
• Queen Mary of Denmark (1972-), who was born in Hobart.

Hobart's Sister Cities

Hobart has sister city relationships with several cities around the world:

• Yaizu, Japan (since 1977)
• L'Aquila, Italy (since 1980)
• Valdivia, Chile (since 1998)
• Xi'an, China (since 2015)
• Fuzhou, China (since 2017)
• Barile, Italy (since 2009)

Images for kids

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  John Glover's 1834 painting Mount Wellington and Hobart Town from Kangaroo Point depicts Aboriginal Tasmanians dancing in the foreground. By this stage however, Aboriginal people had been forcibly exiled from the area following the Black War.

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  A bird's eye view of Hobart. The 1894 International Exhibition is visible near the future Hobart Cenotaph site.

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  A carnival on Collins Street in 1915.

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  The City of Hobart (green) and Greater Hobart (teal). Greater Hobart covers 1,695.5 km² (654.6 sq mi), whereas the built-up urban area covers 81 km² (31 sq mi).

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  Panorama of the Hobart metropolitan area from Mount Stuart. In the background is Mount Direction with the Jordan River valley to the left and Shag Bay to the right.

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  Richea scoparia flowering on kunanyi / Mount Wellington.

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  Snow in Hobart, 2015. While sleet is not rare in Hobart during the colder months, and many outer suburbs receive snow frequently, snow is rare in the inner suburbs.

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  Hobart area from Bellerive Beach.

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  Strickland Falls on the upper Hobart Rivulet.

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  The Hobart Cenotaph, located within Queens Domain.

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  The Hunter Street Precinct is known for its Georgian era waterfront warehouses, since converted into restaurants, bars and galleries.

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  A yard and cottages within the Cascades Female Factory, one of eleven UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites.

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  Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

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  Odeon Theatre, a popular live music venue.

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  Winter Feast during the Dark Mofo arts and music festival.

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  Bellerive Oval hosts cricket and Australian rules football, Hobart's two most popular spectator sports.

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  Hobart's Constitution Dock is the arrival point for yachts after they have completed the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and is a scene of celebration during the new year festivities.

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  The 130 m (430 ft) tall television and radio transmitter of Hobart is to the left over the Organ Pipes of kunanyi / Mt Wellington.

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  St David's Cathedral.

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  Designed by Roy Grounds, the 17-storey Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Sandy Bay, opened as Australia's first legal casino in 1973.

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  The icebreakers Aurora Australis and L'Astrolabe berthed in Hobart.

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  The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at Salamanca Wharf.

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  Salamanca Market with the snow-capped kunanyi / Mount Wellington in the background.

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  A metro bus in the Hobart Bus Mall.

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  Tasman Bridge.

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  Ena departing the Port of Hobart for MONA.

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  Hobart Airport terminal.

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  Cruise ship and seaplane at the port.

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  The Hedberg, part of the University of Tasmania's Hobart campus.

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  Japanese Garden at Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

See also

In Spanish: Hobart para niños