Montagu Bay, Tasmania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montagu Bay Hobart, Tasmania
Montagu Bay, looking towards the Tasman Bridge
Montagu Bay Location in Hobart
Postcode(s)	7018
LGA(s)	City of Clarence
Suburbs around Montagu Bay: Derwent River Rose Bay Lindisfarne (Tasman Bridge) Montagu Bay Rosny Park Derwent River Rosny Rosny

Montagu Bay is a cool suburb in Hobart, Tasmania. It's part of the City of Clarence and sits on the eastern side of the Derwent River. This small, mostly residential area is about four kilometres from Hobart's city centre. It's nestled between Rosny, Rose Bay, and Lindisfarne. The suburb is named after a pretty bay, which used to be called Smelting Works Bay. The bay has a boat ramp and a jetty, and you'll often see lots of yachts and other boats anchored there.

A Look Back: Montagu Bay's History

Montagu Bay and its neighbour Rosny were among the first places settled on Hobart's eastern shore. People started moving here in the 1820s, along with nearby Bellerive.

From Smelting Works Bay to Montagu Bay

In 1877, the bay was known as "Smelting Works Bay." That same year, there was even a shark attack reported in the bay! The name came from a smelting works (a factory that melts metal) that used to be in the area. George Whitcomb, an early colonist, managed this factory for a while.

In February 1914, land sales were announced for the "Smelting Works Bay sub-division." This was a big step towards turning the area into a proper suburb of Hobart.

Early settlers were drawn to the area because of a fresh water creek. This creek flowed into the bay and still exists today as an uncovered storm water canal. A nearby street, Loinah Road, gets its name from an Aboriginal word meaning "drinking place."

How Montagu Bay Got Its Name

The name "Montagu Bay" likely comes from Algernon Montagu. He was an important judge and Attorney General in the early colony. He bought a large property of about 324 hectares (800 acres) with a 14-room house called Rosny House. People believe this big house stood where Balaka Street in Rosny is now. Rosny House later became known as Montagu House and was even marked on naval maps from 1863.

Growing with the Bridges

For a long time, the eastern side of Hobart didn't grow as fast as the city centre. Montagu Bay remained a small settlement through the 1800s and early 1900s. Things really started to change when the Hobart Bridge opened in 1943. This bridge connected the eastern shore right at Montagu Bay.

The new bridge led to quick growth in the nearby suburbs. Montagu Bay saw a boom in new houses, especially homes built by the Housing Department in the 1940s and 1950s. This growth put a lot of pressure on the old bridge. So, a bigger, stronger bridge called the Tasman Bridge was built in 1964. Its eastern end also landed in Montagu Bay.

The Tasman Bridge Disaster

Montagu Bay was in the world spotlight in early 1975 because of a major event. A large ship called the Lake Illawarra crashed into the Tasman Bridge. This caused a section of the bridge roadway to collapse. The rescue efforts and the entire rebuilding process were coordinated from the Montagu Bay Cricket Oval.

The Famous River Swim

For a very long time, the famous trans-Derwent swim has started from Montagu Bay. This swim is part of the Royal Hobart Regatta. Swimmers cross about 1.5 kilometres of the river, battling incredibly strong currents. The swim was stopped for some years in the 1990s because of high pollution in the river. But now, the river is cleaner, and the race is back as part of the regatta!

What You Can Find in Montagu Bay

Montagu Bay is known for its amazing views. You can see the Derwent River, the Tasman Bridge, and even Mount Wellington.

Schools and Sports

The suburb is home to Montagu Bay Primary School. There are also two large cricket ovals. One is next to the school, and another was built on land reclaimed from the bay. The school even has a cool sculpture of a giant hand carved from pine wood.

A boat building shed has been here since the early 1920s. The Eastern Shore cycle path also runs along the shoreline through Montagu Bay, perfect for bike rides.

Shops and Services

Montagu Bay doesn't have many big shops. It has a few small independent stores and a hairdresser. For most of their shopping needs, residents go to the large Eastlands Shopping Centre in nearby Rosny Park.

Recreation and Community

Montagu Bay is home to the Clarence Sports Centre. It also has an Olympic swimming pool, which was originally called The Clarence War Memorial Pool and built in 1963. In the 1980s and 1990s, this pool was famous for its huge white inflatable bubble. This bubble covered the pool, turning it into an indoor centre and making it Tasmania's top swimming spot back then. After the Hobart Aquatic Centre was built, the Clarence City Council decided to update the venue. It reopened in 2004 as a fantastic indoor centre, now called the Clarence Aquatic Centre.

The Tasmanian SES has an emergency headquarters in Montagu Bay. This is because of its close location to the Tasman Bridge and the bridge disaster that happened there. You can also find a Scout Hall, home to the 1st Montagu Bay Scout troop, and the Rosny Childcare Centre. There's a cricket team called Montagu Bay Cricket Club, but they usually play their home games in nearby Geilston Bay because the facilities there are better.

Churches and Temples

Montagu Bay has two churches: St. James Anglican church and a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There's also a former Fire Station that has been turned into a Buddhist Temple. A previous Catholic Church, which even served as Montagu Bay Primary School for a while, was later taken down and replaced with houses.

Getting Around

Montagu Bay has good public transport. Metro Tasmania's bus routes 240, 241, 242, 243, 243C, 244, and 245 all pass through the suburb. Most of these buses travel from Hobart Bus Station to Rosny Park Transit Mall. Some services continue to nearby suburbs like Mornington, Warrane, and Tranmere. You can also catch other bus services from a nearby stop on the Tasman Highway.

A Special Glow

Montagu Bay, on Hobart's eastern shore, is a cool place to see bioluminescence. This is when living things, like tiny sea creatures, create their own light, making the water glow!