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Hobart City

Hobart is Tasmania's state capital and the second oldest city in Australia behind Sydney. It is the largest city in the state, the population of the Greater Hobart area being approximately 190,000. First settled in 1804, the early population consisted largely of convicts. Hobart's early life revolved very much around the waterfront, frequented by whalers and colonial traders.

Simply wandering around the city centre on foot will allow visitors to take in the classic colonial sandstone architecture of buildings such as Parliament House. The Theatre Royal (1837), close to the city centre, is the oldest theatre still operating in Australia and has seen performances from the likes of Laurence Olivier and Gladys Moncrieff. Anglesea Barracks (1814) is the oldest military establishment still used by the Army, and is open for public inspection.

A highlight of many visitor's stay in Hobart is a more recent attraction, the Wrest Point casino, Australia's first and a prominent feature of the Hobart skyline. Hobart's newest attraction is the Antarctic Adventure, on Salamanca Place, which has over fifty interactive exhibits dealing with Antarctica and Australia's presence there.

A must-see in Hobart, particularly for visiting children, is the Cat and Fiddle Arcade. This sheltered area off the Elizabeth Street Mall has an animated clock, which acts out the Cat and the Fiddle nursery rhyme on the hour.

In the Directory

• Accommodation [1]

Photos

Salamanca Market - Photo courtesy of Tour of Tasmania

Wrest Point Casino - Photo courtesy of Tour of Tasmania

Flower of the Blue Gum - Photo courtesy of Tour of Tasmania

Underwater Recommendations

Hobart offers rocky reefs, shore dives on kelp beds and rich soft bottoms environments as well as boat trips to nearby kelp forests, sponge gardens. There is also a number of intact vessels that form artificial reefs.