West Hobart

West Hobart is an inner-city suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is in the hills immediately west of the Hobart central business district.

West Hobart Hobart, Tasmania
West Hobart with Mount Wellington in the background
West Hobart
Coordinates	42°53′1″S 147°18′54″E
Population	6,397 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	7000
LGA(s)	City of Hobart
State electorate(s)	Clark
Federal division(s)	Clark
Suburbs around West Hobart: Mount Stuart North Hobart Glebe West Hobart Hobart CBD South Hobart Sandy Bay

History

The area was first settled as a farming district, hosting poultry, dairy, hops, orchards and Chinese market gardens. Various industries have also served in the area, including a brickworks at the top of Arthur Street and coal mines below Summerhill Road. The side of Knocklofty Hill served as a sandstone quarry. Knocklofty is now a reserve maintained by the Hobart City Council.^[2] The area around Goulburn and Harrington Streets was once a red-light district.

Hobart West Post Office opened on 12 July 1892.^[3]

Considered a 'working-class' suburb until the 1960s, West Hobart has become increasingly a popular inner-city suburb. Many of the houses in the area are older Federation era buildings, prized for their views of the River Derwent.

Today

West Hobart is now considered a bohemian suburb of Hobart, with many artists and musicians living in gentrified Victorian and Federation houses, which abound in the suburb.

Schools in the area include Lansdowne Crescent Primary School, Goulburn Street Primary and the Hobart campus of Guilford Young College on Barrack Street.

Transport

West Hobart is served by Metro Tasmania bus route 540 from Hobart Bus Mall to Mount Stuart.^[4]