History of the Domain
-1803 Tasmania inhabited by aboriginal Tasmanians. They were present for at least 35,000 years. About 10,000 years ago the sea went up and Tasmanians aborigines were separated from mainland aborigines. They evolved in different ways. In 1803 the population of Tasmanians aborigines was 3,000-10,000.
The Black War and infectious diseases decreased the population to 300 by 1833. By 1835 George Robinson had moved most of the remaining aborigines to Flinders Island.
1804-1856: The Domain was officially owned by the crown (the monarchy living in England). Leases were given for quarrying, timber getting and grazing. The money from the leases went to the Governor (the Queen’s representative).
The land around the house was called Government Domain and owned by the crown but colonist treated the land as public land and often called it the People’s Paddock. It was the place to put abattoirs, to quarry building materials, to agist animals, to grow food, to build and berth boats and to store munitions.
1856: Van Diemen’s land becomes Tasmania. Self-government begins.
1858-1901: The Governor gives the Domain (except government House) to the people of Tasmania. The new Parliament of Tasmania’s declares the Queen’s Domain inalienable land (could not be bought and sold). It was a place for the people to enjoy. It belonged to everyone and no-one. It was described as compensation for having to live in a penal colony.
The aim was to make the Domain a people’s park. To bring civilisation to the Domain. At the time the aim was to cover the Domain with parks and formal gardens such as Sydney’s Centennial Park or New York’s’ Central Park. The Domain was to become a venue for the pleasure of the people with the development of carriage drives, botanical gardens, ceremonial spaces and events spaces and facilities. The Domain was to be an example of English nineteenth century landscape ideals which typified the country gentleman's estate.
The aim initially was to cover the Domain with formal gardens. Today it is not covered with formal gardens. The main reason is Hobart is a small city on the edge of the world. Lack of money stopped early planners achieving their ideal.
A theory of the day was healthy outdoor living was needed to cope with the malaise of living in heavily industrialized polluted environments. A horse ride or a walk in nature would strengthen the muscles and fill the lungs full of pure oxygen.
Another common theory of the day was that nature was needed to distract the working classes from alcohol in the pub.
Olmstead (designer Of New York’s Central park) espoused the connection between natural space and human wellbeing. He said there were aesthetic, spiritual, physical and family benefits of being exposed to nature.
For the wealthy parks offered carriage drives and promenades where people could view a civilized nature. For the poor parks were an escape from their crowded polluted lives. The parks also provided sites for civic ceremonies.
The management and landscape design of the Domain was influenced by these ideas. The Domain acted as a lung for the community. The rich and poor all went to the Domain. They all went in order to get away from their homes and to be close to nature. The nature they saw was very formal. A nature controlled and tamed by humans.
1880-2000: Intensive landscaping in the Domain with botanical gardens superintendent, Francis Abbott, overseeing the rehabilitation of quarries and the planting of pines of conifers and other exotic trees as well as of native trees under the influence of the Victorian park ideal. Within the Domain the botanical gardens and, later, the Beaumaris Zoo provided more manicured garden environments within the whole.
The Hollow. The site of the Tattersall’s Hobart Aquatic Centre was a quarry in the mid-nineteenth century. Rehabilitated and planted with conifers in the 1880s it became a popular meeting place for Hobartians. Political meetings held there included anti-conscription rallies during World War I.
1901: A royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall in July 1901.
The roads were lined with locals watching the Royal couple pass. The Royals passed through an arch made of apple flora.
1945- : The Domain has become increasingly isolated. This began with the construction of the rail line in 1875 separating The Domain from the Derwent. A road and a bridge across the Derwent separated the Domain from the Cenotaph.
1961: The Brooker Highway added to the isolation of the Domain.
The traffic surrounding the Domain has increased. The majority of people access the Domain via car. The majority of councilors access the Domain by car.
I have attempted to lobby to increase access to the Domain via a pedestrian bridge. The response was: We have spent money and gone to all the trouble of improving car parks on the Domain. Be grateful.
The Domain is 568 acres of public land in the centre of Hobart. It has been called the Government Domain, Government Paddock, Queens Park, Peoples Paddock, the Paddock, the People’s park.
Now officially called the Queens Domain. Unofficially called the Domain.
It is an area of remnant native bush and buildings in the middle of a major city.
-1803 Tasmania inhabited by aboriginal Tasmanians. They were present for at least 35,000 years. About 10,000 years ago the sea went up and Tasmanians aborigines were separated from mainland aborigines. They evolved in different ways. In 1803 the population of Tasmanians aborigines was 3,000-10,000.
The Black War and infectious diseases decreased the population to 300 by 1833. By 1835 George Robinson had moved most of the remaining aborigines to Flinders Island.
1804-1856: The Domain was officially owned by the crown (the monarchy living in England). Leases were given for quarrying, timber getting and grazing. The money from the leases went to the Governor (the Queen’s representative).
The land around the house was called Government Domain and owned by the crown but colonist treated the land as public land and often called it the People’s Paddock. It was the place to put abattoirs, to quarry building materials, to agist animals, to grow food, to build and berth boats and to store munitions.
1856: Van Diemen’s land becomes Tasmania. Self-government begins.
1858-1901: The Governor gives the Domain (except government House) to the people of Tasmania. The new Parliament of Tasmania’s declares the Queen’s Domain inalienable land (could not be bought and sold). It was a place for the people to enjoy. It belonged to everyone and no-one. It was described as compensation for having to live in a penal colony.
The aim was to make the Domain a people’s park. To bring civilisation to the Domain. At the time the aim was to cover the Domain with parks and formal gardens such as Sydney’s Centennial Park or New York’s’ Central Park. The Domain was to become a venue for the pleasure of the people with the development of carriage drives, botanical gardens, ceremonial spaces and events spaces and facilities. The Domain was to be an example of English nineteenth century landscape ideals which typified the country gentleman's estate.
The aim initially was to cover the Domain with formal gardens. Today it is not covered with formal gardens. The main reason is Hobart is a small city on the edge of the world. Lack of money stopped early planners achieving their ideal.
A theory of the day was healthy outdoor living was needed to cope with the malaise of living in heavily industrialized polluted environments. A horse ride or a walk in nature would strengthen the muscles and fill the lungs full of pure oxygen.
Another common theory of the day was that nature was needed to distract the working classes from alcohol in the pub.
Olmstead (designer Of New York’s Central park) espoused the connection between natural space and human wellbeing. He said there were aesthetic, spiritual, physical and family benefits of being exposed to nature.
For the wealthy parks offered carriage drives and promenades where people could view a civilized nature. For the poor parks were an escape from their crowded polluted lives. The parks also provided sites for civic ceremonies.
The management and landscape design of the Domain was influenced by these ideas. The Domain acted as a lung for the community. The rich and poor all went to the Domain. They all went in order to get away from their homes and to be close to nature. The nature they saw was very formal. A nature controlled and tamed by humans.
1880-2000: Intensive landscaping in the Domain with botanical gardens superintendent, Francis Abbott, overseeing the rehabilitation of quarries and the planting of pines of conifers and other exotic trees as well as of native trees under the influence of the Victorian park ideal. Within the Domain the botanical gardens and, later, the Beaumaris Zoo provided more manicured garden environments within the whole.
The Hollow. The site of the Tattersall’s Hobart Aquatic Centre was a quarry in the mid-nineteenth century. Rehabilitated and planted with conifers in the 1880s it became a popular meeting place for Hobartians. Political meetings held there included anti-conscription rallies during World War I.
1901: A royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall in July 1901.
The roads were lined with locals watching the Royal couple pass. The Royals passed through an arch made of apple flora.
1945- : The Domain has become increasingly isolated. This began with the construction of the rail line in 1875 separating The Domain from the Derwent. A road and a bridge across the Derwent separated the Domain from the Cenotaph.
1961: The Brooker Highway added to the isolation of the Domain.
The traffic surrounding the Domain has increased. The majority of people access the Domain via car. The majority of councilors access the Domain by car.
I have attempted to lobby to increase access to the Domain via a pedestrian bridge. The response was: We have spent money and gone to all the trouble of improving car parks on the Domain. Be grateful.
The Domain is 568 acres of public land in the centre of Hobart. It has been called the Government Domain, Government Paddock, Queens Park, Peoples Paddock, the Paddock, the People’s park.
Now officially called the Queens Domain. Unofficially called the Domain.
It is an area of remnant native bush and buildings in the middle of a major city.