Ebook In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books
Ebook In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books
Download As PDF : In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books
Peter Timms leads us on a journey through his adopted city of Hobart, Australia's smallest, most southerly, least prosperous, but arguably most beautiful state capital. He reveals a city in transition, shaking off its dark and troubled past to claim its special place in the contemporary world; going boutique, nice and slow', as one overseas visitor notes. From Hobart's convict legacy, its spectacular natural setting, heritage architecture and climate, to crime-rates, economic hardship and the recent disfigurements of the developers, Timms brings a wealth of fresh insights, exploring the city with a mixture of affection, admiration, frustration and sadness, interviewing a wide range of residents along the way. Those who have experienced Hobart as tourists will be surprised and intrigued by the lively, complex society this book reveals. Those who live here will surely discover their city anew.
Ebook In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books
"Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania, is Australia's smallest, second oldest and most southerly capital city. Greater Hobart had a population of 216,276 in 2011, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. As a consequence of its geographic setting, it's both a long narrow city and a beautiful one. Divided by the Derwent River and overlooked by Mount Wellington, Hobart has a character all of its own.
In this book, Peter Timms explores the history of Hobart from the settlement at Sullivan's Cove in 1804 to the present. This is less a history than it is a commentary on the influences that have shaped both Tasmania and Hobart (both good and bad) and what it is like to live in Hobart.
`Tasmania, along with Outer Mongolia and Timbuktu, has long been seen a symbol of remoteness, whether of the mysterious, the enticing or the cruelly comic kind.'
While Tasmania is comparatively less remote these days because travel by both sea and air is less expensive than it was in the past, it is still an island some 240 kilometres (at its narrowest point) from the Australian mainland. Bass Strait can be both a physical and a psychical barrier to travel.
`Hobart's great paradox is that most of what people admire about it today is the result of poverty in the past.'
How true: many of Hobart's public buildings would have been replaced in larger cities, which would be a great shame. Many of the small cottages of the 19th century are now regarded as highly desirable residences. And yet, there is a clash between old and new, and some of the new buildings are not at all sympathetic to their surroundings.
Hobart has the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Tasmania (one of Australia's Sandstone Universities founded in 1890). Hobart also has Constitution Dock where the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race ends each year, the amazing Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and a couple of terrific independent bookstores.
This is more an introduction to Hobart than it is a guidebook. It gives context and explanation rather than grid references and ratings. Peter Timms touches on Hobart's suburban sprawl, and the problems created in some areas where public housing is concentrated.
I found the book very interesting. The narrative is supported by anecdotes and interviews. Although I grew up in Tasmania, like many from the north of the island I spent very little time in the south. Hobart was seen as the seat of government, a source of bureaucratic interference, a place to be avoided rather than enjoyed. I visited Hobart briefly last year, and this book confirms what that visit hinted: I need to spend more time in Hobart both exploring the past and enjoying the present. It's not the city I remembered from the 1970s: it's a more diverse and interesting place.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith"
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Tags : In Search Of Hobart [Peter Timms] on . Peter Timms leads us on a journey through his adopted city of Hobart, Australia's smallest, most southerly,Peter Timms,In Search Of Hobart,ReadHowYouWant,1459604415,Travel holiday guides,Travel / Australia Oceania
In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books Reviews :
In Search Of Hobart Peter Timms 9781459604414 Books Reviews
- I'm planning a visit to Hobart and wanted to learn about the city before I go. This book fit the bill and then some. There's lots of good information about the city's history, social life, politics, architecture, and layout (quite a bit on city planning, which I loved but might not be to everyone's taste). But more than that, you really get a sense of the city's character. It's not a travel guide (though I flagged several spots to visit), but I feel like I'll understand the city better once I'm there. Mr. Timm has a dry wit and a clever turn of phrase -- his writing put a grin on my face. He's a bit exasperated with Hobart, but it seems to be out of affection, and I certainly appreciate a book that eschews hagiography for a clear-eyed assessment. Of course, I have no way of knowing how accurate his portrait of the city is, but it feels honest. To give you a sense of his writing, here's one way he describes Hobart "[Tourism Tasmania's] choice of a labrador as the city's canine personification is inspired, labradors being homely, reliable, eager to please and a bit slow to catch on. Not glamorous, admittedly, but amiable. There's a lot to be said for that."
- Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania, is Australia's smallest, second oldest and most southerly capital city. Greater Hobart had a population of 216,276 in 2011, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. As a consequence of its geographic setting, it's both a long narrow city and a beautiful one. Divided by the Derwent River and overlooked by Mount Wellington, Hobart has a character all of its own.
In this book, Peter Timms explores the history of Hobart from the settlement at Sullivan's Cove in 1804 to the present. This is less a history than it is a commentary on the influences that have shaped both Tasmania and Hobart (both good and bad) and what it is like to live in Hobart.
`Tasmania, along with Outer Mongolia and Timbuktu, has long been seen a symbol of remoteness, whether of the mysterious, the enticing or the cruelly comic kind.'
While Tasmania is comparatively less remote these days because travel by both sea and air is less expensive than it was in the past, it is still an island some 240 kilometres (at its narrowest point) from the Australian mainland. Bass Strait can be both a physical and a psychical barrier to travel.
`Hobart's great paradox is that most of what people admire about it today is the result of poverty in the past.'
How true many of Hobart's public buildings would have been replaced in larger cities, which would be a great shame. Many of the small cottages of the 19th century are now regarded as highly desirable residences. And yet, there is a clash between old and new, and some of the new buildings are not at all sympathetic to their surroundings.
Hobart has the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Tasmania (one of Australia's Sandstone Universities founded in 1890). Hobart also has Constitution Dock where the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race ends each year, the amazing Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and a couple of terrific independent bookstores.
This is more an introduction to Hobart than it is a guidebook. It gives context and explanation rather than grid references and ratings. Peter Timms touches on Hobart's suburban sprawl, and the problems created in some areas where public housing is concentrated.
I found the book very interesting. The narrative is supported by anecdotes and interviews. Although I grew up in Tasmania, like many from the north of the island I spent very little time in the south. Hobart was seen as the seat of government, a source of bureaucratic interference, a place to be avoided rather than enjoyed. I visited Hobart briefly last year, and this book confirms what that visit hinted I need to spend more time in Hobart both exploring the past and enjoying the present. It's not the city I remembered from the 1970s it's a more diverse and interesting place.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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