After the best nights sleep for an age(!), we headed out refreshed and ready to explore Hobart.
We had picked up a leaflet of Hobart Walks from the Information Centre and had chosen one which took in the majority of the historic sights in Hobart.
Mount Wellington dominates the backdrop to Hobart and the green and red-tin roofed timber houses climb up the lower slopes of the mountain.
Australia’s second-oldest city after Sydney, Hobart has managed to escape the clutches of developers, and its early architectural heritage is remarkably well-preserved. There’s a wealth of colonial Georgian architecture, with more than 90 buildings classified by the National Trust.
The walk took us on a heritage stroll along Salamanca Place, a well-preserved streetscape of waterfront stone warehouses. The old warehouses, shipping offices and storerooms are now full of arts-and-crafts galleries, speciality shops and cafes interspersed with character waterfront pubs. From Salamanca Place we walked to Salamanca Square, a large public square with a fountain at its centre and where we stopped and enjoyed a delicious regular, decaf, soy flat white!
After half an hour or so of soaking up the rays we continued up Kelly’s Steps and into Battery Point, the oldest precinct in Hobart, with its quaint streets, Georgian cottages, grand colonial mansions and village atmosphere. The area was first home to small cottages for waterfront workmen and, later, fine merchants’ houses.
Highlights of the walk included the narrow streets, closely packed cottages, and the flower-filled green of Arthur’s Circus, some of Hobart’s oldest houses; Watson’s Cottages in Napolean Street, once home to workers at the nearby slipyards and the historic Anglesea Barracks.
We had picked up a leaflet of Hobart Walks from the Information Centre and had chosen one which took in the majority of the historic sights in Hobart.
It was a fine but windy and cool start to the day but at least the sun was shining! We made our way to the protected anchorage known as Sullivans Cove and which is the site of the first settlement on the western shore of the Derwent River. Fishing boats shelter here in Victoria Dock, Sydney-Hobart ocean racers tie up in the Marina and Antartic supply ships berth at the nearby Princes Wharf. The walk followed the waterfront to Hunter Street with its historic sandstone buildings.
Mount Wellington dominates the backdrop to Hobart and the green and red-tin roofed timber houses climb up the lower slopes of the mountain.
Australia’s second-oldest city after Sydney, Hobart has managed to escape the clutches of developers, and its early architectural heritage is remarkably well-preserved. There’s a wealth of colonial Georgian architecture, with more than 90 buildings classified by the National Trust.
The walk took us on a heritage stroll along Salamanca Place, a well-preserved streetscape of waterfront stone warehouses. The old warehouses, shipping offices and storerooms are now full of arts-and-crafts galleries, speciality shops and cafes interspersed with character waterfront pubs. From Salamanca Place we walked to Salamanca Square, a large public square with a fountain at its centre and where we stopped and enjoyed a delicious regular, decaf, soy flat white!
After half an hour or so of soaking up the rays we continued up Kelly’s Steps and into Battery Point, the oldest precinct in Hobart, with its quaint streets, Georgian cottages, grand colonial mansions and village atmosphere. The area was first home to small cottages for waterfront workmen and, later, fine merchants’ houses.
Highlights of the walk included the narrow streets, closely packed cottages, and the flower-filled green of Arthur’s Circus, some of Hobart’s oldest houses; Watson’s Cottages in Napolean Street, once home to workers at the nearby slipyards and the historic Anglesea Barracks.
By lunchtime we had completed our walk and found ourselves back at the waterfront and we stopped for lunch at the very popular Fish Frenzy restaurant - we had a super meal of beer battered flathead with great chips and enjoyed some chilled chardonnay whilst admiring the view of the harbour, handsome sandstone warehouses and tall ships……
today was also Melbourne Cup Day - a flat race which brings the nation to a standstill - at 3pm the race started and by 3.10pm it was all over - we fancied two horses; C’est la Guerre and Bauer - neither won but they did come in second and third - shame we never placed a bet!!!!
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