wood chopping | Walking the Derwent River

I can’t help myself. Having reviewed my favourite images from the first half a dozen stages of my walk along the Derwent River, I felt compelled to continue looking through my collection from the subsequent walks. I have chosen photos showing aspects of both the natural and man-made world and I believe all will prompt thinking about the Derwent River, Hobart and its suburbs, and the natural environment. My selection of the images with the most memorable impact for me, from stages 7-10, are given below.

From the eastern shore looking northwards towards the Bowen Bridge, with a couple of black swans on the river.

Two plaques ‘opened’ by two great Australian prime ministers near the Bowen Bridge.

The rusting raw-edged remains of a ship, the Otago, at Otago Bay.

My enjoyment of any family’s black sheep.

Heading into Old Beach and gradually leaving Mount Wellington behind.

The gloominess of the approaching storm when I reached Old Beach.

The pleasures of well-made pathways, thanks to local government.

Looking northward across the Jordon River to Greens Point.

The glories of native flora. In these instances, it was blooming wattle and a spectacular stand of eucalyptus/gum trees which attracted my attention.

The remains and the signs of a burnt out car on a back track.

Knowing that it is still possible to have a laugh when walking.

Arriving at the Bridgewater Bridge.

Walking on the western shore of the Derwent River for the first time during this project.

The house of one of first European settlers, James Austin, at Austins Ferry.

At Dogshear Point, walking around the Claremont golf course, with the thwacking sound of hit balls crossing the greens.

Reaching Cadbury’s chocolate manufacturing factory in Claremont.

The hand-hewn rustic style seat near Connewarre Bay.

Passing MONA somewhat camouflaged as it nestles into a tiny hill against the Derwent River.

The mosaics along the foreshore.

The jumble of boats and boat houses at Prince of Wales Bay.

Road mark making in Lutana.

Cornelian Bay’s oil tanks up close.

The Tasman Bridge.

The circus had come to town.

The emptiness of an arena of stands waiting to be filled during wood chopping competitions.

Reaching the ‘end of the line’ on arrival in Hobart city.

Leaving the navy depot on the edge of the Derwent River, I realised the distance to Hunter St and the beginning of Sullivans Cove in Hobart was not far. That seemed like a perfect finishing destination for Stage 10 of my walk along the Derwent River, so onwards I plodded.

The ex-navy depot sits immediately next to the Regatta Grounds so I reached the Regatta Stand, set up for the annual audiences, very quickly – by 4.10pm.

Hobart’s Regatta has a long history. According to http://www.soldierswalk.org.au/walk_domain.html , “The Hobart Regatta is the nation’s second oldest and commenced in 1838 and has been staged every year since, bar two. A grandstand was built in 1877 and replaced by the John Colvin Stand in 1919-20.” History and photos (including some of Queen Elizabeth visiting) can be seen at http://www.royalhobartregatta.com/History.html.

The day had become bleak and windswept. The area was empty of people and movement. Nevertheless, I continued walking along the dismal disused railway line and passed empty wood chopping competition blocks.

Eventually I was stopped from walking to Macquarie Point on the Derwent River by a high fence with locked gates. I did my best to continue walking around and as far as I could. But it was useless to think I could get much closer to the Point. It simply was not accessible to walkers like me.

I clambered up a weedy section and eventually climbed over a lower fence until I was standing on the lower grounds of the Cenotaph, a monument commemorating the men and women who have died in various wars. This is a significant site in Hobart on our nationally celebrated ANZAC Day each April 25th. As I began to leave, the time was 4.18pm.

I walked around the Cenotaph,

down an avenue onto the Highway opposite the Aquatic Centre, then turned left and continued until I reached the Grand Chancellor Hotel, which sits opposite the end of Hunter St, at 4.38pm. A bus stop was nearby and within moments I was on a bus travelling back to the eastern shore to my home in Bellerive. I felt like I was glowing from the achievement of having covered so much territory and history during this Stage 10 of my walk along the Derwent River. It had been a marvellous day!

Walking the Derwent River

The ribbon that separates the eastern and western shores of Hobart, Tasmania's capital city

Tag Archives: wood chopping

Another revision: naturally therapeutic images from stages 7-10

Hobart’s Regatta Grounds and Cenotaph; missing Macquarie Point but reaching Hobart’s Sullivans Cove.

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