Apart from being a busy seaport town, Hobart distinguishes itself with its rich cultural heritage, being home to both the Theatre Royal, which is Australia’s oldest theatre, and the world renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. The city in fact has a thriving music and art scene, with many notable artists from all over the world taking up residence there.
Residential Places in Hobart
One of the most remarkable things about living in Hobart is the ease in which you can get from any point in the city to another. Even if you choose to live in the suburbs, the main section of the city is never very far away. The furthest outlying suburbs–Fern Tree, Mt Nelson and Dynnyrne–are no more than 7 kilometers away from the city’s center.
The quality of the houses in Hobart are remarkably high, which is all the more impressive considering that property rates are considerably lower there than in any other Australian capital city. A September 2007 listing of house rates in certain suburbs showed that houses in Sandy Bay, which is 5 kilometers away from the city, go for $595,000. On the other hand, houses in Battery Point, which is a scant 1.6 kilometers away, go for $600,000.
Pricing Estimates
On the lower end of the price scale, houses in Glebe typically go for $313,500, while houses in Mt. Nelson fetch prices of $316,000 on the average. Houses in Hobart proper come in somewhere around the middle at $425,000, with houses in West Hobart and Mt Stuart going for $407,500 and $390,000 respectively.
As for the types of houses you can expect to find in Hobart, there is a wide range available, from older mansions and family homes to newly constructed apartment complexes. And because of Hobart’s ideal location, you are almost certain to have a good view of either the Derwent River or Mount Wellington wherever you decide to live in the city. In some areas you will even be lucky enough to have both!
Hospitals and Universities of Hobart
As far as health care in Hobart goes, you have a wealth of options in both government-owned and privately run hospitals. The Royal Hobart Hospital is the largest and most fully equipped government hospital. Some of the private hospitals in the city are the Hobart Private Hospital at the corner of Argyle and Collins Streets, St Helens Private at Macquarie, Calvary Hospital at Augusta Road and St Johns Calvary at Cascade Road.
Educational Establishments
Schools are equally plentiful in Hobart. The city is home to one of the oldest and most respected educational institutions in the country, the University of Tasmania. In addition, the Hobart TAFE was judged the Best Training Provider in the country in 2000 and 2002.
Some of the other colleges you can find in Hobart are the Guilford Young College, Mount Carmel College, Sacred Heart College, St Mary’s College and St Virgil’s College.
Commercial Places in Hobart
Much of the after dark activity in Hobart goes on around Salamanca Place and the waterfront, although there are certainly plenty of other places worth visiting all over the city. One of the alternatives to the aforementioned areas is Elizabeth Street in North Hobart, which features a host of restaurants specializing in different cuisines from all over the world. Whether you are in the mood for Chinese, Greek, Thai, Italian, Mexican or Indian food, Elizabeth Street will have something for you.
Some of the more notable dining establishments in town are Mures Lower Deck where you can feast on a delectable selection of fresh seafood, Pear Ridge Gardens and Restaurant which is known for its hearty meals served up in a simple but very satisfying country style, The Saffron which serves up only the best in North Indian cuisine, and the Republic Bar & Cafe where you can either enjoy a sumptuous lunch or come back after dark and take in the excellent live music entertainment.
Shopping Establishments
Being a capital city, shopping in Hobart is no less a rewarding experience with loads of city markets and more modern shopping centers vying for your money. Some of the bigger ones are the Centre Point Shopping Center, the Cat and Fiddle Arcade and Trafalgar Square.
Service Establishments of Hobart
Aurora Energy Pty Ltd is the main electricity provider in Hobart and you can contact them at GPO Box 191, Hobart Tasmania, 7001. You can also call their Customer Service Centre at the following numbers from Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm, and on Saturdays at 9am to 12noon: 1300 13 2003 for residential customers, 1300 13 2045 for small businesses, 1300 13 7008 for electricity supply upgrades and 1300 300 545 for insulation sales. In addition, there is also an emergency and fault repair number, 13 2004, which is available at all hours, seven days a week.
At the time of this writing, there is no regular supply of natural gas in Hobart, although construction has begun on a gas pipeline from the mainland that stretches across the Bass Strait. This pipeline is set to be operational in about two years.
