Hobart For Everyone: the Architecture of Hobart

The Architecture of Hobart

1938 - Hobart Council Centre, 16 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas.
Erected as the headquarters of the Hydro-Electric Commission, this imposing six storey office block is one of Australia's finest examples of commercial Art Deco architecture. Its Art Deco features include unique laddered discs at the top of the fourth storey which suggest electrical insulators. The building's exterior was originally illuminated by neon tubing. The lobby is embellished with ubiquitous green tiles. Architect: A. & K. Henderson of Melbourne.

1938 - Hobart Mercury Building, 91-93 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
Built in the 1930s, this is a bold four storey structure which gains prominence in the streetscape because of its simple yet imposing design. Its facade features vertical piers between narrow window bays. Designed by Tasmanian architect Archie Johnston. The completion of the building allowed the installation of a Goss rotary press, capable of printing in two colours.

1938 - Colonial Mutual Life Building, Macquarie Street (Cnr Elizabeth Street), Hobart, Tas.
A landmark seven-storey building, similar in design and colour (salmon pink brickwork) to offices built by this insurance company in Australia's capital cities during the 1930s. This is one of the few that escaped the demolition hammers in the 1970s and 1980s when many buildings of this size and vintage were replaced by larger buildings. The design has numerous gothic details such as gargoyles. Architects: Hennessey & Hennessey.

1937-38 - Masonic Temple, 3 Sandy Bay Road, Hobart, Tas.
Distinctive three-storey Stripped Classical design with Art Deco details, built totally of brick, with the few windows on the street front being of opaque glass. The building consists of five bays that are symmetrically and vertically proportioned with a minimum of detail or adornment. It is viewed as the finest work of its architect, A. Laurston Crisp. The building was dedicated on 15th January 1939.

1915 - City Hall, 57-63 Macquarie Street (cnr Market Place), Hobart, Tas.
A Federation Anglo-Dutch influence is recognisable in the secondary brick parapeted gable which is stepped, scalloped and silhouetted against the skyline. Nominated as one of Tasmania's most underrated public buildings by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, it was a competition winning design. Its site, which was formerly the city market-place, has been used for civic congregation in Hobart since the middle of the nineteenth century. City Hall has been used as a centre for civic, social and recreational activities since 1915, in addition to its market function. Architect: Tasmanian Rusty N Butler

1912 - Blunderstone's Factory, Campbell Street, Hobart, Tas.
This two storey Federation warehouse was built for shoe and boot maker John Blunderstone. Its products became very fashionable in the boutiques of Europe after World War II. The business relocated in 1980 when the building was taken over by the Children's Court.

City Flour Mills, Brooke Street, Hobart, Tas.
The original city mill was erected on this site in the early 1860s. The current building was erected in the late 1890s to replace the original which had become too small. In 1986, the building was converted into offices and restaurants. The original bagging machine is on display inside.

Irwin Place, 107 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tas.
This is one of a row of one-storey brick rendered conjoined cottages with hipped roof and 12-paned double hung windows. There is a fanlight above the front door. They were built as workers' coittages in the 1830s.

Rosebank, 11 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tas.
A large residence on the high side of Hampden Road which offers views across the Derwent River, it was once the home of Andrew Inglis Clarke, one of the authors of the Australian Constitution. It is a two storey townhouse with hipped roof, shallow boxed eaves and symmetrical facade. There are arched windows on the upper level and moulded architraves around the front windows and doorway. There is a fanlight above the front door.

1843 - former pensioner's cottage, Arthur's Circus, Battery Point, Tas.
One of a number of fairy-tale cottages in one of Australia's most unique streets. Built around a grassed area, Arthur's Circus was the brainchild of Tasmanian Governor George Arthur who built the street and its unique cottages in 1843 to house retirees of the day who could not afford their own homes. No two cottage were alike and many feature dormer windows which let light into their attic bedrooms.

7 McGreggor Street, Battery Point, Tas.
A simply detailed Gothic-style home featuring a high pitched roof, gabled window, lightly decorated bargeboards and the use of brickwork (plastered) and decorative stone for the porch.

70 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tas.
Authentic 'Gingerbread House' style cottage with typical domestic Gothic features. These include a high pitched roof, pointed arches and highly decorated bargeboards prominently featured.
Built in the Victorian era of locally quarried stone, it contains some details characteristic of the Victorian era, such as the iron-lace decorated front verandah.

State Office Building, 10 Murray Street, Hobart, Tas.
12 storey Government office building erected in the late 1960s in the International style.

1866 - ANZ Centre, 103 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
A two storey building made of light grey stone, designed by F. Butler. It features decorative reveals and keystones to ground floor windows, and freestanding columns to both levels, with frieze and cornice, which has brackets and dentils. There is a balustraded parapet and the entries are defined by double columns to each side. The structure is one of the oldest bank buildings in Australia.

Hobart Silos, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tas
For around fifty years the Hobart Silos were used as a storage facility for grain, destined for export. Today they house thirty luxury residential apartments. The existing concrete walls provided the shell for a ten-storey structure incorporating the use of pre-cast concrete columns and in-situ concrete slabs.
The four 30-metre high concrete silos were converted at a cost of $15.2 million. The high-rise apartment block faces north across the Hobart docks and waterfront. The Silo’s building comprises of the ground floor being commercial tenancies that include restaurants, and clothing stores. The first to sixth floor comprise of single silo, single floor, two bedroom apartments. The seventh and eighth floor comprise of double silo, three bedroom, sub penthouse apartments. The ninth and tenth floors comprise of double silo, two level penthouses, that provide an opulent living lifestyle combined with magnificent views of the city and harbour.
Alongside and separate to the main structure stands a new four-level commercial building. Known as the Castray building it comprises secure car parking, office and / or retail space and eighteen family and studio hotel accommodation units. The structure consists of post-tensioned in-situ concrete slabs and over five hundred precast wall panels.

1980 - Supreme Court Building, Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tas.
A recent addition to the streetscape of upper Salamanca place, its is a rare single-storey example of Stripped Classical Revival which blends in well with the many Georgian and Classical style buildings surrounding it. The complex was designed by British migrant architect Peter Partridge and built by the Tasmanian Public Works Department.

Elizabeth Street Pier
This pier replaced the former Argyle Street Pier (1875) and Elizabeth Street Pier (1876). It was designed by HR Hutchison in 1932 and was believed to be the only completely reinforced concrete pier and shed in Australia at that time. The new structure, 152 metres long and 36.5 metres wide, was constructed at a cost of $75,000 by Cheverton & Gray, starting in September, 1932, and was opened for traffic on 26 June 1934 by the Governor, Sir Ernest Clark, and Lady Clark. The shed, with an area of 2,627 square metres, had reinforced concrete walls and asbestos-cement roof. The longest pile is 32.6 metres long, weighs 27 tonnes and is driven 15.8 metres into the sea bed. During the Tasman Bridge emergency (1975-77), this pier was used as the city passenger terminal, with four ferry berths constructed on the pier. The shed was converted to an apartment style hotel, convention rooms and cafes in 1997 with the deck, columns and roof line being retained.

16 Mona Street, Battery Point, Tas.
A rambling double storey home in the Arts & Craft style, being one of a number such larger homes in this precinct. It is a picturesque residence featuring a dominant front roof gable with feature windows, a tall chimney at the rear of the house and wall buttresses.

1895 - Huonden, 178 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
A large guesthouse, which served as the RAAF Recruitment Centre No. 6 Personnel Depot between 1935 and 1945.

1847-49 - Masonic Club (Hutchins School), 181 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
Erected as a school building, it is constructed of bluestone with sandstone trimmings. The central square tower has a castelated parapet and a turret to the north-west corner. The unusual facade composition includes a major window with tracery at ground level and unequal gable-ends at roof level. Designed by John Lee Archer.

St Ives Motel Apartments Hobart, 67 St. Georges Terrace, Battery Point, Tas
This building was custom built as a motel offering apartment-style accommodation. The brutalist style is partcularly suited to this application, allowing the architect to use the characteristics of the style to maximum effect without creating an eyesore. Parking is at ground floor level under the units; the visual focus of the building is towards the views at the front which can be appeciated from balconies on all levels and by all units.

C.1920 - The Elms, 452 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, Tas
An outstanding, rare example of a large house of World War 1 vintage that bridges the gap between Edwardian Federation and Californian Bungalow styles. The work of one of Hobart's better known architects, Bernard Walker. A large two storey brick and stone house with hipped roof and broad flat eaves, it has a recessed entry with door and arched highlight and sidelights. It has a string course at upper level window sill level and two bay windows at lower level.

A.G. Webster's Building, 60 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tas.
A two storey red brick building erected as the headquarters of the Tasmanian Wool and Agricultural Company. It consists of wide two storey arched bays and intermediate piers with bonded pilasters and a terminating corbelled parapet. There are egg and darts mouldings below the cornice and the central entry has a merino sheep bas-relief spandrel over painted pilaster capitals and a parapet trim.

T&G Building, 113-117 Collins Street, Hobart, Tas.
Six storey building with rendered brick facades modulated by alternate groups of windows with wide piers. It also features a distinctive stepped tower. The Society had a policy of providing its own premises in all capital cities of Australasia. The designs of T&G Buildings across Australia, New Zealand and some provincial areas, progressed with the architectural ideals of the day, together with a business philosophy expressed through the built form. Pinnacle towers were a common feature, symbolic of strength and able to be seen from a distance, and featuring the initials "T&G". A canopy overhanging the footpath is also a consistent element of the Society's buildings. The buildings were used to promote the essence of life assurance - tradition, prosperity and peaceful serenity for each generation. Architect: A. & K. Henderson, Melbourne.

34 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas.
Six storey Functional style office building featuring a plain painted exterior, curved corner outer wall and a vertical glass block window which give light to the main stairwell between levels 1 and 4.

1940 - Central Building, Cnr Collins and Elizabeth Streets, Hobart, Tas.
A fine but rare example of the Georgian Revival style in Tasmania. It is surprising that the style was not more widely used in Hobart, given the number of Colonial Georgian buildings, that ones such as this complement architecturally.

1834-36 - Scots Church, Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tas
Formerly St Andrew's Church, it is an early Georgian Gothic stone church, designed by J.E. Addison and built by his firm, Jackson & Addison. It features a central tower-like parapet and four small spires. The parapet crenellations surround the building. The structure was extended 3 metres in 1860 to accommodate a new organ. Its neighbouring hall is a simple Colonial sandstone chapel of coursed undressed brickwork, built in 1824 and attributed to W. Wilson. It was the original church. Its foundation stone was laid by Lieut. Gov. Arthur on 2nd March 1824.

1868-72 - St David's Cathedral, Cnr Macquarie & Murray Streets, Hobart, Tas.
A stone Norman Gothic Revival cathedral built to the original design of English architect G.F. Bradley. The foundation stone of this Anglican church was laid by HRH, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1868. The arcaded entry features a large west window with fine tracery in the gabled-end balanced by buttressed towers. Other features include a simple square tower, erected in 1936, in Oatlands sandstone, with a castellated parapet and quatrefoil tracery to the openings. The tower has a peal of eight bells. The cloisters were added in 1929.

1841-43 - St Johns Presbyterian Church, 188 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
Set behind a rock-faced stone wall and pillars with spherical lamps on iron standards, this Regency Greek Revival stone church features two engaged Doric columns and an eight panel front door with bracketed pediment. Above is an entablature, triangular pediment and protruding coping. A controlled but striking imitation of a Greek temple, though the proportions of the Doric columns are wrong.

Lenna, 20 Runnymede Street, Corner of Runnymede and McGregor Streets, Battery Point, Tas.
Imposing double storey Italianate style mansion, built by shipowner and merchant Alexander Mcgregor in the 1870s. Erected in several stages, it is a good example of elaborately detailed high Victorian residential architecture. Its design features richly modelled facade with bay windows, two storey colonnaded verandah, balustraded parapet, elaborate bracketing to the cornice. The slate roof has round head dormers with elaborate bracketing and bracketed cornice to chimneys.

Franklin Square Public Buildings, Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
The government administration of Tasmania has been centred upon this complex of buildings since colonial times. The first building, the Court House, was built in 1824 and rebuilt in 1860-62 as the post office. John Lee Archer designed the Post Office/Treasury (1836) (above) and the Murray Street public offices (1841).

Convict architect James Blackburn added the massive Doric portico. Other wings such as the Executive Council Offices (above) were completed in 1860, 1887 and 1914. The Supreme Court was designed by W.P. Kay and built in 1860-1910. It is constructed of fine sandstone with rustication at the ground level and smooth ashlar above.

1989 - Derwent Entertainment Centre, Brooker Highway, Glenorchy, Tas
On a waterside site overlooking Elwick Bay this versatile facility, built in 1989, offers seating for up to 7000. Seating is tiered on three sides of an arena and there is wheelchair access to the Centre with a ramp to the arena. The Centre has hosted such diverse offerings as basketball, Lippizaner horses, motoCross, Superstars of Wrestling, the Tasmanian Schools and Colleges Rock Festival and many individual and group rock stars. Interior facilities include a mother's room, seminar suite, bar and a large foyer.

27 Kirksway, Battery Point, Tas.
One of four unusual homes built into the hillside of Battery Point. It features classical Regency style proportions with the addition of a predominant dormer window and entablatures to doorway and windows.

2002 - Federation Concert Hall & Convention Centre, 1 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas
Love it or hate it—there is no ignoring the brass-clad exterior! Hobart’s striking Federation Concert Hall is a large, brass-plated Gasometer-like cylinder clinging to the side of the Hotel Grand Chancellor. Its once gleaming exterior has weathered with time (along with the hall’s controversy) and the venue has been embraced as the home for the renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Tasmania's largest purpose-built convention facility, the Concert Hall and Convention Centre has tiered seating for 1100 people and the ballroom accommodates 1000.

1875-77 - Derwent and Tamar Building, Cnr Macquarie & Murray Streets, Hobart, Tas.
A three storey former bank building designed by Henry Hunter and featuring a full basement, light well and iron railing to Murray Street. It is constructed of two different sandstones, with vermiculated pilasters and surrounds to ground level and pink stone to upper levels. The fine stone detailing includes rounded corner window reveals, bracketed pediments, bracketed cornice, balustraded parapet, parapet urns and quoins. The entrance portico features polished granite columns and an iron balcony to the second level. The building, with its richly detailed facades, is part of a particularly attractive and uniform streetscape on Murray Street.

Mercantile Mutual Building, Franklin Chambers, 105 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
A three storey Victorian era Academic Classical commercial building, designed by J.A. Thomson with a front facade in ashlar, the rest in brick and a hipped iron roof. There are expressed quoins, bracketed cornices to ground floor openings, Ionic pilasters and pediments to second level windows, string courses, a decorative frieze and a cornice to the roof.

31 Murray Street, Hobart, Tas.
The predominant feature of this Anglo Dutch style two storey commercial property is its highly decorated second storey oriel-style bay window.

Customs House and Bond Store, Cnr Davey & Dunn Street, Hobart, Tas
The Federation Classical style three storey Customs House, which today houses the Museum and Art Gallery Administration, was built in 1903 and designed by Shield & Baker. Built of locally quarried stone, it features rusticated stone pedestals and pilasters with a balustraded parapet, pyramidal slate dome arched pedimented porches with Doric pilasters and columns and sculptured figures.

1903 - Athenaeum Club, 29 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas.
Built to cater for Hobart's gentry, this building features an unusual mix of Classical and Federation era influences. The upper floor fronting Davey Street has been extensively modified to permit the use of floor to ceiling windows.

Butler Mcintyre and Butler Building, Cnr Murray & Davey Streets, Hobart, Tas.
An Edwardian two storey building on a stone base built with hipped iron roofs and bracketed eaves on protruding wings, and elaborate iron balustrading to the two storey return corner verandah. Construction is red brick with white stuccoed window surrounds and quoins.

1938 - Royal Hobart Hospital, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tas.
One of the finest examples of the Moderne Idiom on a large scale public building in Australia, frequent additions and alterations have overwhelmed the integrity of the elegant, streamlined original building. Architects: Leighton Irwin (Melbourne).

1846 - Customs House Hotel, Murray Street, Hobart, Tas.
At the lower end of Murray Street towards Morrison Street are three beautiful examples of Colonial Georgian style hotels. The Customs House Hotel, on the corner of Morrison Street, was built for Charles Gaylor in 1846 as the Customs House Tavern and Chop Shop. The complex is comprised of three co-joined three storey buildings with iron roofs, banded rustication to the first floor and ashlar to the second and third floors. The central building is cement rendered. The ground floor openings and mullions are intact, but glazing bars and fitments have been removed. The central building has a dominating parapet, the corner building has a cornice.

Jones & Co. Factory and Warehouses, 14-41 Hunter Street, Hobart, Tas.
These stores, built for Henry Jones' famous IXL Jam manufacturing company, are part of one of Australia's finest harbourside colonial warehouse streetscapes. The nine connected, mainly three storey stone buildings were constructed with ron roofs, arched goods entrys and Georgian windows. The buildings include two cold stores of neo renaissance detail and a sixteen bay brick warehouse with three storey high arches with giant order of bonded pilasters and bracketed cornice. Nos. 31 and 33 were built in the 1820s by William Bunster. In 1827, No. 31 was the Commercial Inn.

Warehouses, Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tas.
This row of buildings are accepted as the best waterfront Georgian warehouses in Australia. Nos. 47 to 89 were built between 1835 and 1860 and at that time had direct frontage to Hobart's 'New wharf'. Nos. 21 to 33 were built in the 1840s.

1830s - Narryna, 103 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tas.
One of the finest examples of a double storey Colonial Georgian mansion in Australia, it was designed by Edward Winch for Capt. Andrew Haig, a master mariner who owned a warehouse on Salamanca Place. It is a brick building with a stone facade and features a shallow fanlight window above the entrance door. The building is meticulously proportioned and scaled.

1847 - Royal Engineers Building, Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
Early example of the Gothic style in a non-clerical building. The two storey stone building features projecting gables, two storey bay windows with baluster to the false terrace above and an iron roof. the building's designer in not known.

19 Runnymede Street, Battery Point, Tas.
A copybook Gingerbread House-style double storey home featuring many Gothic details such as asymmetrical design, high pitched roof, gabled windows, pointed arches and highly decorated bargeboards.

1864-66 - Hobart Town Hall, Cnr Elizabeth & Macquarie Streets, Hobart, Tas.
Classical Revival is style a commonly used in Australian town halls, and this is is an excellent example. It features banded rustication to the ground floor, finely detailed pediments and cornices over upper level windows, quoins, cornice with both egg and dart and dentils, bracketed eaves and chimney caps. There is a three-bay entry porch, with Corinthian columns and side porticos. The richly decorated interior features a grand staircase. Architect: Henry Hunter.

1840s - Runnymede, 61 Bay Road, New Town, Tas.
A fine single storey Regency stone home built in the early 1840's, the house includes a music room added by Bishop Nixon in 1850, a delicate trellis verandah of Huon Pine under a hipped slate roof, delightful wooden entrance gates, original coachhouse and stables.
Bay window to music room has cedar shutters on sash cords. Six pane casement windows with two pane highlight to verandah - elsewhere twelve pane except bay window. Pilasters at corners. Brick coach house and stables with shingle roof.

Macquarie Monor, RAC Tasmania Club, 172 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tas.
A two storey Regency commercial building constructed of pecked ashlar with smooth stone quoins. Windows are in groups of three with carved mullions representing columns, there is decorative stonework carving at the head of the decorative iron infill canopies.

1843-45 - Hobart Synagogue, Argyle Street, Hobart, Tas.
A single storey building designed by James Thomson, it is the oldest place of Jewish worship in Australia. It is a rare example of Regency Egyptian Revival style.

1847 - 38 Davey Street, Hobart, Tas.
This building, formerly St Mary's Hospital, features a mix of Gothic and Tudor finishes. It served as a convict hospital between 1847 and 1860. It was subsequently used as office accommodation by several Tasmanian Government departments, most recently the Lands Department. Architect: W.P. Kay.

34 Hampden Road, Battery point, Tas.
Double storey red brick residence in the Queen Anne style featuring tall chimneys, a central small bay window on the upper storey, timber verandah posts and Victorian filigree decoration to verandah.

Dept of Health & Human Services Building, 12 Murray Street, Hobart, Tas.
Handsome sandstone building showing both Gothic and Classical influences.


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Hobart For Everyone has been compiled from material supplied to us, and all information is published as information only. The publishers are not responsible for its accuracy and inclusion of information about travel and holiday destinations within Australia on this site or other sites linked to it does not constitute any representation or offer by the businesses, services or organisations contained therein, nor are the views or opinions expressed therein necessarily those of this website's publishers.