Hobart, 1820s

[xenith]

This is taken from the Tasmanian Almanack, 1825. I like Almanacks, they have lots of lists and numbers, and I like this one because it counts as writing research, which is why I post bits from it here, so I can find them later. The list that interests me right now is a page of the significant buildings in the town (15 of them). I also have a street map from the same time with buildings marked on it. These should correspond. Also there's a picture:

Hobart 1825 part of series that form a panorama, by Augustus Earle.

So the list is:

1. New Government House, Macquarie St, fronting Elizabeth St.
   
   Map puts it in (present day) Franklin Square. From memory, the present route of Elizabeth St runs through the site of the house. So "fronting Elizabeth St" seems you open the front door and look down Elizabeth St rather than being ON the street?
   
   
2. Supreme Court House containing civil and criminal courts, Murray St
   
   Map has it on the corner of Murray and Macquarie St, which puts it in the complex of sandstone buildings at the end of Franklin Square, so that's right.
   
   
3. New County Gaol, opposite court house.
   
   Not on map, but that is this place on Murray St, between Macquarie & Davey Sts. Oh, and there are plans, never know when you might need plans for the gaol. Three linkies there.
   
   
4. New Military Barracks, upper end of Davey St
   
   That's Anglesea Barracks
   
   
5. Guard House, Macquarie St
   
   Not on map. Have pictures of a guard house in Macquarie St, and plans of a guard house, cnr Macquarie & Elizabeths Sts, but they are from later.
   
   
6. New Government Stores, Kings Wharf
   
7. Old Kings Stores, Macquarie St
   
   This is fun. Map has commissariat stores on Macqaurie St, where Argyle St intersects, which is the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery site. The Commissariat and Bond Store buildings on the TMAG site were built (I'm sure they used that on their website) were built 1808/10 and 1824. So is that old and new stores, or both old stores? I'm not sure where Kings Wharf is on the old coastline. *makes a note*
   
   
8. New Colonial Hospital, Collins St, entrance on Liverpool St.
   
   That's the Royal Hobart Hospital site.
   
   
9. New Penitentiary/Prisoners Barracks, Campbell St
   
   That would be the barracks/gaol that used to be here. Map (I think, numbers is hard to read) has penitentiary further along Argyle St. Not sure what that's about.
   
   
10. Female Factory, right side of gaol
    
    On the gaol site.

Comments

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

How fascinating. Totally different to, say, early Adelaide or Melbourne. I can see why you want to use it for fiction.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

Earlier this year I came across a description of the morning of the land sale where they parcelled out what was to be Melbourne. I found it a touch surreal. So different to what I was used to :)

I so want to use this setting but it's very much primary source territory hence these posts, as I'm trying to make sense of things. There will be more in the next couple of months, I'm sure. Also I'm not having much luck with historical fiction. My characters keep running off and doing things they shouldn't be doing.

[sue-bursztynski.livejournal.com]

This was around the time Alexander "Cannibal" and his mates escaped.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

It was!

Also Brady & Co, the Black War, and a whole lot of social & political changes. Fascinating time :)