Hobart - Fast Facts

Tasmania's capital city. Beautifully located on the hills around the Derwent River.

Hobart is Tasmania's capital city. It is unique amongst the state capitals in that it has a strong sense of its colonial, nineteenth century heritage and still happily enjoys the notion that it is nothing more than a big country town.

Named after Robert Hobart, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time of its settlement, it is Tasmania's chief port.

The population of the city is relatively stable. There were 164 400 people in 1976 and this had risen by less than 10 000 by 1983 when the population was 173 700 and less than another 10 000 to 183 500 in 1990. The stability and smallness of the population means that house prices, unlike every mainland city, have remained relatively low. Equally job opportunities in the city are limited.

Tasmania is the most non-urbanised of all the Australian states with only 40.2 per cent of its population living in, Hobart, the capital city. This compares dramatically with New South Wales, where 74.7 per cent of the state's population live in Sydney, Wollongong or Newcastle and even the Northern Territory where 46.6 per cent of the population live in Darwin.

Hobart's Beauty
It is widely recognised that Hobart is one of Australia's most beautiful cities. Its location on the Derwent, its straggling, irregular appearance, and the distinctive old world charm of its docklands and port have often been written about in the most glowing terms.

Tourist Information

Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre
Cnr Davey & Elizabeth Sts
Hobart TAS 7000
Telephone: (03) 6230 8233