Tasmania/Hobart: Unique History, Background!

[TLCOhio]

From the Telegraph in London earlier today, they have this headline: "Hobart, Tasmania: beyond the bush-fires" with these highlights: "A fire was almost the first image that Europeans had of Tasmania. An hour after sunset on December 1, 1642, Abel Tasman, the Dutch sailor who gave his name to the island, dropped anchor in North Bay. Next morning, he was alarmed to observe columns of smoke rising above the trees. These fires were probably old, left by the Oyster Bay Tribe. They might smoulder for two months if the weather was fine."

 

Now in Tasmania, there is a keen watch on the bush-fires, which have claimed the life of one fireman, destroyed more than 100 homes and burned thousands of acres of bush. The author notes: "At Boomer Bay, a family running from a firestorm looked around and saw, running alongside them, bandicoots, possums and wallabies; human and wildlife fleeing together. And the fire season has eight weeks to go. The smoke that blackens the sky in every direction and fills the dry air with charred ferns conceals a painful yet natural law: Tasmania’s peerless landscape is adapted to fire. Not only that, but certain native plants, such as banksias, eucalypts and ti-trees, need fire to regenerate. Bligh, Flinders, Cook, Furneaux – these early explorers all recorded seeing bush-fires from their decks. The Bay of Fires probably takes its name from burn-offs started by Aboriginal nomads who viewed fire as an agrarian tool. Europeans have tried to abolish fire in what is called 'a very silly approach. Their disinclination regularly to burn the litter of leaf and bark that amasses has increased the risk of a catastrophic fire from every 150 years to every 50 years.' According to this scenario, Tasmania is due for another conflagration. The last, in February 1967, affected two thirds of the island, left 62 people dead, and incinerated large parts of the capital, Hobart."

 

This is written by author Nicholas Shakespeare based on his book that explores the beauty and history of the Tasmanian capital. He has a beach home near Swansea on the eastern coast of this island. In the subhead, the story quotes mystery writer Agatha Christie describing Hobart as “incredibly beautiful, with its deep-blue sea and harbour".

 

Here is some added history on Hobart and its interestings connections to the home country: "In London in the early 19th century, the lamplight by which you read your newspaper or ate your dinner or strolled down a smog-shrouded Piccadilly was fuelled by Tasmanian whale-oil. As often as not, the odd-scented orange flame had its origins in this modest sea-port on the southernmost rim of the world. To reach Hobart from England required a journey of up to eight months in a sailing ship, to a hilly town 'beyond the seas', in the words of the sentencing judge who might have transported you there in the event of your having committed a felony – as had most of Hobart’s population. In the nostrils of London, 14,000 miles away, Hobart stank every bit as badly as the putrid carcasses that were rendered into fat on the wharves opposite Salamanca Place. In myth and in history, Hobart was recognised as the 'cesspit of the Empire' and stood for the opposite of its illuminating whale oil; a dark antipodean hole that was a byword for remoteness, like outer space on earth."

 

WOW!! Not boring or bland. Lots of other history, interesting background comments are cited. Reactions from those who live there and/or have visited there? A year from now, this will be our first visit there.

 

Also this story details about the new Art Museum that is sending ripples through the international art world. It is being done by David Welch, a professional gambler who has consecrated his fortune to building a £70 million gallery devoted to works celebrating the themes of sex and death. It is open free to the public. How is it?

 

You can also read more from Mark Chipperfield, their newspaper's Tasmania expert, with an insider's guide to Tasmania, where to eat and drink and what to do and see. Read it at

telegraph.co.uk/tasmania

 

Full Telegraph story at:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/australiaandpacific/australia/9817506/Hobart-Tasmania-beyond-the-bush-fires.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 115,253 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474