Hobart Rivulet

River in Tasmania, Australia

42°54′26″S 147°14′49″E / 42.90722°S 147.24694°E / -42.90722; 147.24694 • elevation566 m (1,857 ft) MouthUrban stream flowing into the River Derwent

• location

Hobart

• coordinates

42°52′38″S 147°20′22″E / 42.87722°S 147.33944°E / -42.87722; 147.33944

• elevation

22 m (72 ft)Length7 km (4.3 mi)Basin featuresRiver systemDerwent catchment^[1]

The Hobart Rivulet, part of the River Derwent catchment, is an urban stream located in the Hobart hinterland and flows through and underneath the city, in Tasmania, Australia.

Course and features

The rivulet rises on the slopes of Mount Wellington and flows generally northeast over O'Grady's Falls, Strickland Falls, through South Hobart and past what was known as the World Heritage-listed Cascades Female Factory towards the Hobart central business district. As a result of urban development, the natural course has been altered significantly. The lower portion of the rivulet has been piped through the city and runs below the central city area. The rivulet emerges again near the Royal Hobart Hospital on Collins Street before flowing underneath the Cenotaph and emptying into the Derwent.^[2]^[3] The rivulet descends 544 metres (1,785 ft) over its 7.3-kilometre (4.5 mi) course.^[1]

Regular tours of the rivulet once took place under the CBD.^[4] The sandstone Wellington Bridge (1841) over the rivulet lies under the Elizabeth Street Mall, and is visible through a viewing portal there.^[5]^[2]^[6]

Underneath Hobart
At Barrack Street
At Collins Street
At Collins Street
At Harrington Street
At Molle Street
At Molle Street

History

The rivulet was an important source of drinking water for the Mouheneener Aborigines, and later for the first European settlers.^[7] The site for Hobart was originally chosen in part due to the availability of fresh water from the rivulet.^[7] Because of the pure water of the upper portion of the rivulet, the Cascade Brewery was built beside it.^[8] There were several typhoid epidemics during the late 19th century due to poor water quality further downstream.^[7] It was also an important source of energy for early industry in Hobart.^[7] There are multiple old bridges over the Hobart Rivulet. The oldest is the Wellington Bridge that is on Elizabeth Street built in 1841. Second oldest is the Harrington Street Bridge built in 1844. Third oldest is the Molle Street Bridge built in 1866.

References

^ ^a ^b "Map of Hobart Rivulet, TAS". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
^ ^a ^b Raabus, Carol; Saunders, Louise (11 October 2013). "Time to reveal Hobart's hidden rivulet". Australia, Hobart: ABC News. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
^ "Hobart Rivulet". Visit. Tasmanian Government. February 2004.
^ AboutAustralia.com.au – Hobart Rivulet Tours
^ "Engineering Heritage Walk leaflet". Engineers Australia.
^ further item on ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-01/going-underground-in-the-hobart-rivulet/7676134?section=tas
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Companion to Tasmanian History – Hobart Rivulet
^ Vaisutis, Justine; Blond, Becca; Brown, Lindsay (2007). Australia. Lonely Planet. p. 620. ISBN 978-1-74104-310-5.

Hobart landmarks

Buildings and structures

Institutions

Anglesea Barracks
Australian Antarctic Division
College of Arts, Law and Education
Derwent Barracks
Government House
The Hedberg
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Parliament House
Parliament Square
State Library
Supreme Court
Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music
Town Hall

Entertainment

Galleries and museums

Sports

Transport

Nature and parks

Precincts

Beaches and islands

River systems and rivers of Tasmania, Australia

Rivers flowing towards the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean
Anne Apsley Arve Blythe Broad Browns Carlton Cascade Clyde Cracroft Cygnet Dee Denison (Little) Derwent Gawler George Harcus Hobart Huon Jordan Lachlan Little Swanport Lune Maurice Medway Mountain Nive North West Bay Ouse Picton Plenty Prosser Ringarooma Russell Snake Styx Swanport (Little) Welcome Weld Wye