Battery Point, Tasmania

Battery Point is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is immediately south of the central business district. It is in the local government area of City of Hobart.

Battery Point
Hobart, Tasmania
An assortment of weatherboard and brick row houses in Battery Point
Battery Point
Coordinates42°53′34″S 147°20′0″E
Population1,997 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density2,995.7/km2 (7,759/sq mi)
Postcode(s)7004
Area0.7 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
LGA(s)City of Hobart
State electorate(s)Clark
Federal Division(s)Clark
Suburbs around Battery Point:
West Hobart Hobart Salamanca
South Hobart Battery Point Derwent River
Dynnyrne Sandy Bay Derwent River

Battery Point is named after the battery of guns which were established on the point in 1818 as part of the Hobart coastal defences. The battery was situated on the site of today's Princes Park. The guns were used to fire salutes on ceremonial occasions but were never called upon to repel an invasion. The battery was decommissioned after an 1878 review of Hobart's defences found that its location would tend to draw an enemy's fire onto the surrounding residential neighbourhood. The site was subsequently handed over to the Hobart City Council as a place of recreation and amusement. When the Council carried out works to beautify the park in 1934, they discovered tunnels which had served as a magazine for the original battery.[2] In 1973, a green ban was placed by the Builders Labourers Federation to prevent destruction of certain buildings by developers.[3]

The area is generally known as one of the city's more prestigious suburbs, with many large and extravagant homes and apartment blocks.[4] It adjoins the waterfront Salamanca area as well as the nearby prestigious suburb of Sandy Bay.

St George's Anglican Church in Battery Point, designed by John Lee Archer.[5] Battery Point has a large number of historic houses dating from the first European settlement of "Hobart Town".[6]

Probably the most significant is Arthur Circus with its cottages, mostly originally constructed for the officers of the garrison.

Battery Point is accessible via Hampden Road, which runs from Sandy Bay Road from the edge of the city.

The hotel "Lenna of Hobart" on McGregor Street.

Battery Point residents have been the centre of controversy in recent years, demanding noise restrictions and other measures aimed at safeguarding a sheltered lifestyle.[7]

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 1,997 people in Battery Point. 65.3% of people were born in Australia and 76.9% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 47.9% and Anglican 16.1%.[1]

Notable people

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Battery Point (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. Howatson, Donald, The Story of Battery Point – Street by Street, 2012, ISBN 978-0-9871287-4-4
  3. Burgmann, Verity and Meredith (1998). Green Bans, Red Union: Environmental Activism and the New South Wales Builders Labourers' Federation. p. 52.
  4. Sixty front doors : Battery Point Hobart : a tour guide, Richard Lord and Partners, 2005, retrieved 8 December 2018
  5. Bennett, A. Allan (1938), St. George's Church, Battery Point, Hobart, 1838–1938 : souvenir booklet giving a brief history of the century, Cox Kay, retrieved 8 December 2018
  6. Historic Battery Point, Hobart, D.E. Wilkinson, Government Printer, 1966, retrieved 8 December 2018
  7. PM – Cafe gets roasting for coffee bean smell
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