 |
| Hobart Town on the River Derwent, Van Diemen's Land - February 1830 Creator: Duncan, Edward, 1809-1882, engraver; Huggins, W. J. (William John), 1781-1845 |
The following contemporary description of Hobart Town in 1830 was first published in the "Ross's Hobart Town Almanack" and re-published in the "The Australian" (Sydney) in February 1830:
HOBART-TOWN. — The stranger, as he sails up the Derwent, which is perfectly safe for shipping, will observe on each side, several cultivated spots of small extent, appearing among the trees. Having cast anchor in the Harbour, which is called Sullivan's cove, close to the town, Mulgrave battery, with the tendence of the Port officer, at the waters edge, appears to the left and Mount Nelson in the distance. Bordering, also, on the water, is Cottage green, the residence of the Rev. R. Knopwood, the first chaplain of the colony; also the villas of Mr. Read, and Mr. Moodie, and the burying ground, also, on a fine commanding eminence, the the Military barracks. Directly in front of the harbour is Government-house, with pleasure grounds pleasantly sloping down to the water's edge.
The public landing place is on a small pier or jetty, on what was formerly called Hunter's island, but now connected with the main land by a long stone causeway. Here the principal merchants of the town have erected several spacious and substantial warehouses, among which may be mentioned, the very extensive stores of the Leith Australian Company, at present let to Government as an Ordnance store.
On the right is the Town rivulet, and beyond it, on a promontory, called Macquarie-point, the Engineer's stores, or Lumber-yard, where the blacksmiths, carpenters, and other mechanics in the employment of Government are always at work. On this point the troops are reviewed on field days, and some of the inhabitants of the town occasionally recreate themselves at the game of cricket and other out-door amusements.
A pleasant walk conducts up the bank of the river to the Government garden, which, during last year, has undergone much improvement, and been considerably extended under the superintendence of Mr. Davidson. A hot-house and green-houses are now in progress, and many new plants and useful exotics have been added since our last publication. Near it is the site of the intended new Government house.
The first street the traveller enters, after leaving the wharf, is Macquarie-street, in which are situated the Government-house, the Commissariat stores, the Court-house, the Gaol, St. David's church, the Guard-house, and many of the principal public offices. In front of Government house, and at right angles to Macquarie-street, is Elizabeth-street. It conducts to the main road which leads to the interior, and in it, and Liverpool, street, are some of the first shops in the town.
The ground on which the town is built is of unequal surface, the rivulet running through the centre. It already extends over seven hills (as many as an ancient Rome), and covers upwards of a square mile. There are several flour mills on the banks of the rivulet.
A romantic walk leads up the left bank to the foot of Mount Wellington, passing the Female Orphan school. Mr. Hackett's distillery, Dynnerne, formerly erected as a distillery, but recently rebuilt as a suburban residence by the present proprietor, Mr. R L. Murray, Mr. Hodgson's tannery, the new Female penitentiary, and the saw mills of Messrs. Macintosh and Degraves, and Mr. Stokell, near which is the rocky fall called the Cascade.
From Elizabeth-street, the buildings extend nearly a mile on the main road to the interior, the furthermost of which are the villa of Mr. T. Y. Lowes, that of Mrs. M'Tavish, the handsome architectural structure of Dr. Scott, and the elegant cottage of Mr. Emmett, on this side of which, about half a mile out of town, nearly opposite the Dallas Arms inn, kept by Mr. Morris, is Mr. Shoobridge's hop garden, called Providence valley.
The public landing place is on a small pier or jetty, on what was formerly called Hunter's island, but now connected with the main land by a long stone causeway. Here the principal merchants of the town have erected several spacious and substantial warehouses, among which may be mentioned, the very extensive stores of the Leith Australian Company, at present let to Government as an Ordnance store.
On the right is the Town rivulet, and beyond it, on a promontory, called Macquarie-point, the Engineer's stores, or Lumber-yard, where the blacksmiths, carpenters, and other mechanics in the employment of Government are always at work. On this point the troops are reviewed on field days, and some of the inhabitants of the town occasionally recreate themselves at the game of cricket and other out-door amusements.
A pleasant walk conducts up the bank of the river to the Government garden, which, during last year, has undergone much improvement, and been considerably extended under the superintendence of Mr. Davidson. A hot-house and green-houses are now in progress, and many new plants and useful exotics have been added since our last publication. Near it is the site of the intended new Government house.
The first street the traveller enters, after leaving the wharf, is Macquarie-street, in which are situated the Government-house, the Commissariat stores, the Court-house, the Gaol, St. David's church, the Guard-house, and many of the principal public offices. In front of Government house, and at right angles to Macquarie-street, is Elizabeth-street. It conducts to the main road which leads to the interior, and in it, and Liverpool, street, are some of the first shops in the town.
The ground on which the town is built is of unequal surface, the rivulet running through the centre. It already extends over seven hills (as many as an ancient Rome), and covers upwards of a square mile. There are several flour mills on the banks of the rivulet.
A romantic walk leads up the left bank to the foot of Mount Wellington, passing the Female Orphan school. Mr. Hackett's distillery, Dynnerne, formerly erected as a distillery, but recently rebuilt as a suburban residence by the present proprietor, Mr. R L. Murray, Mr. Hodgson's tannery, the new Female penitentiary, and the saw mills of Messrs. Macintosh and Degraves, and Mr. Stokell, near which is the rocky fall called the Cascade.
From Elizabeth-street, the buildings extend nearly a mile on the main road to the interior, the furthermost of which are the villa of Mr. T. Y. Lowes, that of Mrs. M'Tavish, the handsome architectural structure of Dr. Scott, and the elegant cottage of Mr. Emmett, on this side of which, about half a mile out of town, nearly opposite the Dallas Arms inn, kept by Mr. Morris, is Mr. Shoobridge's hop garden, called Providence valley.
Sources:
- Picture: Hobart Town on the River Derwent, Van Diemen's Land - February 1830 - Creator: Duncan, Edward, 1809-1882, engraver; Huggins, W. J. (William John), 1781-1845 - Courtesy State Library of Victoria
- Article: Colonial Literature, Descriptive Itinerary of Van Diemen's Land (1830, February 19). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3.
No comments