News and Media
25 February 2010
Defence families enjoy the way life should be in Hobart
Hobart, Tasmania's capital can best be described as a laidback hassle-free place, which offers an effortless lifestyle while still providing all the advantages of a bigger city. Tucked in the foothills of Mt Wellington, the city is reasonably small with the streets laid out in a grid formation. The Elizabeth Street Mall is in the centre of town with the historical Georgian warehouses along the waterfront and the colony district at Battery Point.
Hobart is home to almost 210,000 people with more than 100 of these being Defence personnel. Hobart has two major Defence locations; Anglesea Barracks, located in the city centre and Derwent Barracks, located 25 minutes from Anglesea.
The Headquarters for Army, Navy and Airforce in Tasmania is located at Anglesea Barracks in Hobart.
Outside of Hobart, there is the Kokoda Barracks at Devonport on Tasmania’s north coast and Paterson and Youngtown Barracks in Launceston’s city centre to the North East.
There is some Defence housing available on Anglesea Barracks however this is limited to five heritage houses; the commanders’ residence, the original convict hospital, and four terrace houses that were the original officers' quarters.
Derwent Barracks, an Army and Army Reserve Barrack, is located in the suburb of Glenorchy and is where the majority of Defence housing can be found.
A group of 15 Defence family homes are at Dowsing Point just around the corner from the Derwent Barracks. This is a great location for Defence families and being so close to the Barracks, relieves the pressure of getting to work.
All other Defence housing in the Hobart area is within a 30km radius of both Barracks. The housing is predominately three and four bedroom free standing homes with large backyards. The backyards are great for families as the size is well above the typical standard size experienced elsewhere in Australia and are a stand out feature of Tasmanian homes.
Many of Hobart’s major facilities such as hospitals (public or private), shopping malls, medical services and schools are located in the CBD. There are over 50 schools in Hobart alone with a good selection of public, private, religious, co-education, all boy and all girl schools and colleges. The University of Tasmania campus is also located in Hobart with a student population of more than 13,000.
There are major suburban shopping centres, ideally located for Defence families, in Northgate at Glenorchy, Channel Court in Kingston and another in Eastlands over the river on the Eastern shore. But for those smaller items a local shop will always be within walking distance.
The Metro Bus system is useful for travelling around the city, although services to the outer suburbs are less frequent, and more often Defence families tend to rely on their own vehicles for transport. Services between Hobart and other towns are often run by private bus companies. A ferry service comes in handy when living on an island and the Spirit of Tasmania ferries can transport you and your vehicle on an overnight journey that saves time and accommodation costs.
Living on an island in the Southern Ocean can mean the weather can vary on any given day. For many families it is quite different to what they may have experienced elsewhere. There are four distinct seasons with the average maximum temperature in summer, a pleasant 20-21 degrees and a cool 11-13 degrees in winter. Throughout winter the days are often crisp with a clear sky. Even though the city is exposed to the southerly winds from the Antarctic it is protected somewhat by Mt Wellington and the temperature rarely falls below freezing, although it’s good practice to always have a jacket within reach.
The cost of services such as electricity and gas can be quite expensive and a little unexpected for families moving here.
For those wanting to get out and about in Hobart, there is an abundance of outdoor activities - there are 20 national parks in the region, a botanical garden and animal parks nearby offering plenty of opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors. With plenty of dockside cafes, artist’s studios and restaurants, Hobart is a place where you can enjoy excellent cuisine and fine wines.
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Hobart is of course famous for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race which inspires plenty of boating in the area; and Salamanca Place is home to the Salamanca markets which claim to be the best outdoor markets in all of Australia.
The markets are on every Saturday with thousands of tourists and locals winding through the stalls of clothes, food, arts and crafts providing another great opportunity for Defence families to experience what Hobart has to offer.
The Defence Housing Australia (DHA) office is located in the middle of the city just down the road from the Anglesea Barracks. The Tasmania Defence Community Organisation (DCO) is also conveniently located on the Anglesea Barracks and the staff there are able to help you settle into your new life in Hobart. DHA should be your first point of contact for all housing and related services, including housing allocations, rent assistance and house maintenance, and can be contacted on 139 DHA (139 342).
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