Whatever name has graced the wide lower reaches of what we know as the Derwent River, and whoever discovered it first, all agree it's a wonderfully beautiful part of the World. Our historical accounts point to the year 1803 as the first European settlement, and at first, Bowen and his party selected the dry Eastern Shore as the place to plant a British colony. It didn't take long before it was realised that the Western Shore provided superior conditions and so in 1804, the embyonic Town of Hobart was born.
The maritime climate at 42 degrees south can be harsh, and indeed many in the early colonies found the going hard. Not the least of those, being convicts and in some cases their families, transported against their will to serve out sentences for often what amounted to petty crimes in England. That as it may be, somehow the British rulers had to find a way to populate the place! The transport of convicts was an entrepreneurial challenge to many of the private ship owners of the day. In the end about 800 ships brought their human cargo to Australia, between 1788 and the mid 19th Century. Remarkably, every ship which set sail made it's mark, and even though some of the voyages had significant loss of the poor lives below deck, by far the majority of convicts landed here in acceptable condition to provide much needed labour.
As Hobart became established as a whaling station and capital of the colony, there evolved a resourceful and tenacious brand of person. Some enterprises flourishing today have their roots in the early business people of those days, as do some of the less enchanting aspects of Tasmania's present political and social customs.
No wonder, that on any day of the year and in almost any conditions, the Harbour provides recreational and commercial boating opportunities to visiting sightseers and locals. You must see Hobart Harbour for yourself to fully appreciate the beauty of Hobart, set in the foothills of Mount Wellington.
See an interesting article here for boating enthusiasts
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/mediareleases/media-sibs07.html
