The historic waterfront at Hobart is a nice way to spend an afternoon with lots of history, a pleasant stroll and many cafes and restaurants.

Hope and Anchor Pub (1807) – the oldest licenced hotel in Australia.

Mawson’s Hut Replica Museum is an exact replica of the huts used by Douglas Mawson in the 1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition at Commonwealth Bay.

Mawson pioneered the use of Greenland huskies to pull sleighs on Antarctic expeditions.

Moby and Welf were two of the last six huskies that served at the Australian Antarctic Division’s Mawson Base. An international agreement in 1991 that did not allow any animals to be brought to Antarctica saw the last of the huskies return to Tasmania in 1992.

Our interest in Mawson’s Hut was sparked by our much loved Dad’s visit there in 1994.

Douglas Mawson as he appeared on a $100 Australian bank note.

The size of Antarctica compared to Australia and New Zealand puts into perspective its vastness.

The Australian Antarctic Division’s 1962 visit to Mawsons Huts, 50 years after its construction.

A piece of Baltic Pine from Mawsons Hut is on display.

The hut was home to 18 scientific expeditioners. It was a refuge from the winds that averaged over 70km/hr over the whole year with the strongest wind recorded at over 300km/hr. Commonwealth Bay is the windiest sea level location on Earth.

Baltic pine from the same area in Scandinavia as the original timber was used in the replica.

An unusual addition – the association that operates the Hobart hut uses funds to maintain the actual Mawson’s Hut in Antarctica. They created a series of penguins and auctioned them for fundraising. Oddly, this one never sold. “Why, you birdbrain. How dare you mock me on the eve of my greatest triumph? Yes, my fine feathered finks. Mm, it’s just a little plot that I hatched in prison. You wait and see. The Batman and the Penguin are going to be partners in plunder.” – Burgess Meredith as The Penguin in the original series.

Georgian buildings oon the waterfront.

The original IXL Jam Factory

13000 convict women were brought to Van Diemans Land between 1803 and 1853 bringing with them 2000 children. Most of them arrived at this location.

Hobart Town and Mount Wellington from the docks. I have learned that people from Hobart are called Hobartians (sounds like martians (but no other alien references are applicable)). Greater Hobart is home to 254000 Hobartians. Thanks for the update AS!

Many Antarctic expeditions departed from here so there are many Antarctic themed sculptures.

Sir James Clark Ross departed from here for Antarctica in 1840 in two ships, the “Erebus” and “Terror” which inspired further polar explorers like Louis Bernacchi.

Black-headed cormorants sit here before doing their own exploring in Storm Bay.

Hobart’s version of the seal’s,“Oh crap!”

As the docks may have looked in yesteryear (minus the highrise).

Starfish in the waters below the dock.

Tasmania’s Parliament House

Sandstone carving at Parliament House – “Dieu et mon driot – God and my right”  is the motto of the monarch of the United Kingdom – a reminder of the period of colonisation.

Georgian buildings opposite Parliament House.

A. D. Ogilvie was once Premier of Tasmania who did cricket umpiring as a sideline. Howzat!

Near Salamanca we catch up with Abel Tasman who pioneered the early use of chopsticks across the globe. He was also the first European explorer to visit Tasmania in 1642 naming it Van Diemens Land after the Dutch Governor of Batavia (present day Jakarta in Indonesia).

Abel Tasman’s ships – he was instructed to plant Dutch flags on as many new lands as possible. He sailed on to  “discover” New Zealand in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).

Another plaque in honour of Abel Tasman.

Advertising for the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) ferries that depart from the wharf here. If rockets can’t launch, is it because they have thrust issues?

From their own website: Mona: a museum, or something. In Tasmania, or somewhere. Catch the ferry. Drink beer. Eat cheese. Talk crap about art. You’ll love it.

We are still sitting on the fence (not on the ferry) about this one.