Knocklofty - Hobart's Back Yard

Residents of Hobart love walking through the tall trees of Knocklofty Reserve, visiting the Frog Ponds, spotting mopokes and wallabies, and admiring the wattle trees in bloom. But there’s a lot more to Knocklofty than its natural beauty.

In the early days of European settlement, its boundaries reached much further, and its history is intertwined with the modern suburbs of Sandy Bay, South Hobart, West Hobart, North Hobart, Mount Stuart and Lenah Valley. Once a refuge for absconded convicts and a venue for fistfights and other dubious pastimes, Knocklofty yielded a bounty of timber, stone and brick that helped to build the Hobart of today.


Suzanne will be launching her new book, "Knocklofty - Hobart's Back Yard" on Monday 10th December,at the Forest Road end lookout on Knocklofty, at 6pm.

Locals are invited along to meet the author and hear some of her stories about Knocklofty and what it has meant to West Hobart residents over the years.

All welcome!

The book is also available from Fullers Bookshop.

The Story of West Hobart

Just published is this new book by Donald Howatson, a local historian.  He sets out to chronicle the development of West Hobart by tracing back the origins of each of the streets and explaining how they came to be named (and renamed).

While this might sound dry, it is a good read, being peppered with interesting anecdotes about past residents and developers, and photos of some of our favourite houses.  Donald Howatson has a wry humour which catches the reader by surprise now and then!
It's available at Winnings Newsagents and good bookstores - and it's inexpensive.

West Hobart residents vote for climate change solutions

I was interested to see how many WH residents voted "green" in the Federal election on 21 August 2010.

Based on these assumptions:
1. That votes cast in West Hobart booths were largely from West Hobart residents (some would be from other suburbs of Denison) (while some WH residents would vote in other parts of Denison or elsewhere); and
2. That, based on policy platforms alone, votes cast for Greens (Geoff Couser), Independent (Andrew Wilkie), Socialist Alliance (Mel Barnes) represent active votes for urgent solutions to Climate Change;

I calculate that 53.7% of residents voted for Federal Govt action on climate change!!!!!

By Booth:
Elizabeth College, N Hobart (on border) 55.6%
Hobart West, Goulburn St School 61.4%
Lansdowne Cres Primary School 53.2%
Newdegate, Lawrenny Court 47.4%
St Peters, cnr Bris & Harrington Sts 56.4%
Swan St, N Hobart (on border) 52.2%
Total (3338 out of 6214) 53.7%

I'm sure this is a big increase from last election, has anyone had a look at that?

Neighbourhood Watch Tasmania

Neighbourhood Watch has an active group in West Hobart, holding regular meetings and delivering a regular newsletter to homes.

Map of West Hobart