Virtual Hobart Town

20th February 1804. The founding of Hobart, as seen from the ‘Lady Nelson’.

“Monday 20. Part the military this morn went on shore, and a part of the convicts, to pitch their tents… At 4 the Governor and some of the civil officers went on shore. He ordered my marquee to be pitched very near his, as it was at Port Phillip….” (Diary of Rev. Knopwood, 20th Feb 1804).

The very crowded ‘Lady Nelson’ is anchored at a spot today known as Victoria Dock, Hunter Island is located behind, with the larger cargo vessel the ‘Ocean’ anchored nearby. The sand bar that connected Hunter Island to the shore at low tide is visible to the north, a stone causeway was built here in the early 1820s, and today forms Hunter Street. The sandstone cliffs directly in front of the ‘Lady Nelson’ are still partly visible today, below the Private Secretary’s Cottage at TMAG.

The next few days would be a very busy period at Sullivan’s Cove; land was cleared, trees were felled, tents were pitched, and a rough jetty was built at Hunter Island where stores were unloaded. In all Collins had relocated 262 people and established a new settlement on the Derwent. The name ‘Hobart’ had been claimed by Bowen’s camp at Risdon, to avoid confusion the new camp would for now be referred to as ‘Hobart Town’.

17 Feb 1804. Lieutenant-governor David Collins inspects Sullivans Cove, as the potential location for a permanent settlement on the Derwent.

“At 10 the Lieut. Governor, Mr Collins, and self went to examine the plain on the S.W. side of the river; the plain extensive, and a continual run of water, which is very excellent; it comes from the lofty mountain, much resembling the Table Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope. The land is good, and the trees very excellent. The plain is well calculated in every degree for a settlement. At 5 we returned and dined with the Gov., much delighted with the excursion…”(Rev. Knopwood's diary 17 Feb 1804).

The convict surveyor James Meehan had explored the site three weeks earlier, and marked the site by blazing a tree where the freshwater stream met the harbour. After weeks of exploring both sides of the Derwent, Meehan had concluded that this site represented the most promising location to replace Bowen’s camp at Risdon, principally for the supply of fresh water, and a secure location for stores afforded by a small island nearby.

Collins was under great pressure to form a successful settlement, this would be the third attempt to secure Van Diemen’s Land and Bass Strait for King George III. His party had experienced a difficult 3 months at Port Phillip, as had Bowen’s camp at Risdon. A third failure would have serious implications for British claims in the region.

Fortunately for us today, under Collins’ leadership the settlement survived, and the town has grown into the city of Hobart. The tree that Meehan blazed was located near the current location of the City Hall and Hope and Anchor Hotel.

February 1836. Charles Darwin spends his days exploring the geology, flora and fauna of the Derwent and shared his nights with Hobart Town’s high society.

Darwin spent his 27th birthday dining with the Surveyor-General George Frankland at Secheron House, noting that it was “the most agreeable evening since leaving England”. Darwin and Frankland were kindred spirits and clearly enjoyed their time together, both in the field and at Frankland's home. Frankland believed that exploring and studying the natural history of the island was just as important as marking out land grants for settlers, leading to a strained relationship with Governor Arthur.

After a busy twelve days at Hobart Town, the ‘Beagle’ departed on the 17th of February. Darwin had formed a much more favourable opinion of the town than his initial observations; “…if I emigrate choose this rather than Sydney… climate and aspect of country… society on a pleasanter footing… free from contamination of rich convicts… colony appeared well-governed…. streets at night more orderly than those of an English town… gardens delightfully resemble England…”

Frankland is credited with designing Secheron House at Battery Point, which was constructed in 1831, the same year that the ‘Beagle’ departed England on her famous journey. After the completion of his detailed map of Van Diemen's Land in 1838, Frankland attempted to sell the property and return to England. Home to the Maritime Museum in the 1980s and 1990s, Secheron House has since returned to private ownership.

15th February 1828. The transport ship ‘Mermaid’ departs Woolwich, carrying 99 female convicts on a four-and-a-half-month journey to Van Diemen’s Land. Nineteen young children accompanied their mothers on the journey.

The Mermaid was one of 86 ships that made the hazardous journey, transporting a total of over 13,500 female convicts to Van Diemen’s Land, along with 3000 children. An additional 43 vessels transport female convicts via Sydney.

The 'Mermaid' arrived six months before the opening of the Cascades Female Factory in South Hobart. The majority of women were assigned to free settlers on arrival and may have avoided the overcrowded Hobart Town Female Factory, but over the years many of these convicts would spend time at Cascades - in between assignments, as punishment, or after falling pregnant.

You can learn more about the experience of female convicts on The Female Convicts Research Centre website, including a transcription of the Surgeon's Log from the journey of the 'Mermaid'. https://femaleconvicts.org.au/

8th February 1836. Charles Darwin crosses the Derwent to Kangaroo Bay (Bellerive), on an excursion to explore the geology along the coastline of Kangaroo Bluff, to Bellerive and Howrah beaches.

“I crossed in a steam-boat, two of which are constantly plying backwards and forwards. The machinery of one of these vessels was entirely manufactured in the colony, which, from its very foundation, then numbered only three and thirty years!” (Charles Darwin 1845. Voyage of the Beagle)

The two paddle steamers mentioned by Darwin were owned by Dr Alexander Thompson, the ‘P.S. Surprise’ and the ‘P.S. Governor Arthur’. The Surprise was built at Sydney in 1831, and was brought to Van Diemen’s Land a year later. The ‘P.S. Governor Arthur’ was brought out from England in sections and constructed at Daniel Callaghan’s yard at Franklin Wharf. In addition to operating a regular ferry service to Kangaroo Bay, carrying people, livestock and goods across the river, the paddle steamers often worked as tug boats for large sailing ships entering and leaving the Derwent, the Governor Arthur was also involved in several rescue missions, notably the wreck of the George III in 1835.

Darwin’s excursion to the Eastern Shore is remembered today through the ‘Charles Darwin Trail’, which follows his route from Kangaroo Bay to Howrah Beach, the trail includes interpretive signage, and starts near the Waterfront Hotel at Bellerive.

5th February 1836, the ‘HMS Beagle’ docks at Sullivan’s Cove, with the young naturalist Charles Darwin on board.

The ship had been sailing for over four years, on what was principally a hydrographic survey of South America, but would later be known as one of the most important voyages in history. The observations made on this journey would contribute greatly to Darwin’s 1859 publication ‘On the Origin of Species’.

“On the 5th February, after a six days’ passage we entered the mouth of Storm Bay: the weather justified this awful name…. Late in the evening we anchored in the snug cove, on the shores of which stand the capital of Van Diemen’s Land. The first aspect of the place was very inferior to that of Sydney; the latter might be called a city, this only a town.” (Charles Darwin 1845. Voyage of the Beagle)

His initial observations may not have been flattering, but after a pleasant 12 day stay, making several excursions and observations around the Derwent, he would leave Hobart Town with a much more positive view of the colonial port. Darwin’s descriptions and observations contributed to his scientific knowledge, and eventually to his later publications. Meanwhile, his observations of colonial society offer a great resource for understanding and reconstructing colonial Hobart.

Collin's Camp at Port Phillip was a hive of activity in the final days of January 1804. The decision had been made to 'decamp' from their site at what is now Sorrento in Victoria, and move south to the River Derwent in Van Diemen's Land.

Having lost the services of the 1100 ton 'HMS Calcutta', Collins was faced with a major logistical problem. The transfer was completed with the 'Ocean' and the much smaller 'Lady Nelson'. Many of the free settlers, a detachment of soldiers and much of the expedition's livestock were left behind for this trip.

Escaped convict William Buckley would also remain at Port Phillip, and was found 32 years later living with the local Wathaurang people - giving rise to the term 'Buckley's chance'.

29 Dec 1798 - Matthew Flinders anchors the sloop ‘Norfolk’ in Risdon Cove, as part of the first circumnavigation of Van Diemen’s Land.

“As soon as the anchor was dropped in Risdon Cove, we went on shore to examine the run, and found that the late rain had thrown so much water in, that we should be able to fill our casks near the mouth. The valley that runs down extends some distance to the SE’ward, and is a very beautiful country, with a rich luxuriant soil.” (Flinders, Lt. "Narrative of the expedition of the Colonial Sloop Norfolk...", 1799).

The Bass & Flinders expedition had huge implications for the settlement of Van Diemen's Land, not just by proving that it was an island, and at risk of French occupation, but this very positive review of Risdon Cove would lead to grave disappointment for Bowen and his party of settlers five years later.

Rev. Knopwood diary - 25 December 1805.
"Xms Day morn at 8 the Colours were hoisted on Hunters Island, at 11 all the Civil and Military attended Divine Service."

General Orders - Hobart Town 24th December 1805.

"Devine Service will be performed tomorrow if the weather is favourable when the Lt Governor expects a more numerous attendance than he has observed of late."

[David Collins - general and garrison orders, 1803-1808. Mitchell Library]

23 December 1828 - The first female prisoners move to the Cascades Female Factory.

Early in the morning of the 23rd December 1828 about 100 female prisoners were removed from the overcrowded female factory at the Hobart Town Gaol, and started making their way to the new ‘House of Correction’ at the Cascades (The Hobart Town Courier, Sat 27 Dec 1828, p.2). Many of the prisoners had their children by their sides, or babies in their arms for the 3km journey to South Hobart.

The Cascades Female Factory operated until 1856 and a further 20 years as an invalid depot and gaol, it was inscribed in the World Heritage list in 2010.

Hunter Island 1804 - 360 degree panorama.
Scroll around to take in the view from Sullivans Cove in the first days of settlement. Stores are being unloaded from the 'Ocean' and 'Lady Nelson' and taken to the first tents on the island. The sandbar can be seen at low tide connecting the island to the shore and 'Table Mountain' is visible in the distance.