An Island State

TASMANIA HIGHLIGHTS

Tasmania is the only island state of Australia’s seven states. We had an early morning flight from Sydney to Hobart, Tasmania’s capitol. The population of a half million occupies one of its four cities. Much of the island is impenetrable rain forest and unexplored. The entire Tasmanian aboriginal population was wiped out 73 years after the first Europeans arrived. The last, a female, of the 6000 full-blooded aborigines died in 1876.

Our first stop was at the lovely botanical gardens. Azaleas and rhododendrons were in bloom and simply gorgeous, the blooms the largest I’ve ever seen. In the true English tradition, the gardens were well kept, spacious, and filled with both native and imported plants. The park just got prettier and prettier as we walked along. There were ponds, bridges, specialty gardens, flower gardens in bloom, and green lawns. There were many benches where one could sit and rest, contemplate, whatever. Colorful Eastern Rosellas were flying around everywhere. We all wanted to spend more time in the peaceful gardens.

At Hobart's waterfront stands Salamanca, a series of old warehouses. Built in 1930, they stored apples, corn, and wheat for export. At one time there was a jam factory in the building. The area was easy walking distance from our hotel. Warm sandstone buildings line the uncrowded waterfront. Once abandoned, now the area is filled with trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes, stores, and art studios.

While in Tasmania we stayed at Lenna of Hobart, a stately mansion located on a hill in the heart of historic Battery Point. Well located, it was easy walking distance to the city center. The mansion had a widow’s walk, and since I’d never been on one, we walked up a stair-ladder and was amazed at the fantastic view it offered. The area was encased in glass panels, including the roof and it was quite warm inside. One couldn’t help but think about how many women might have watched for their man to come home from the sea.