DAY 18: Thursday, November 30. HOBART


Tasmania is named after the Dutch explorer Tasman who sailed past the island and left a plaque on a tree as a claim for ownership on behalf of his country.  We learned on our walking tour in the afternoon that the Dutch never followed up on his claim - leaving the British
unchallenged when they colonized the island.

The walking tour was in the afternoon so we went to the Salamanca arts area and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in the morning.  

The Salamanca area included a building that once served as a United States Consulate during the sailing ships and whaling era.  We were surprised by a sign telling the story about Americans held in prison at that time.  They tried to stage a rebellion in Canada to overthrow British Colonial rule but it failed, they were arrested and then sentenced to imprisonment in Hobart.


Afterwards, we went to the museum.  Their collection included a modern art piece based on a group of women prisoners who sewed a quilt during their passage from England to Tasmania.


The afternoon guided walk included our hotel.  It used to be a hospital. 


Other walk highlights included the oldest licensed pub in Australia and an intersection recognized for representing the most authentic remaining Colonial era architecture in the country.


Our day ended with a great meal at a local restaurant the Drunken Admiral.




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