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Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, From Kangaroo Bay, 1847

The following is from the Illustrated London News of January 9, 1847.

We have annexed two views of this fine Colony, from Tasmania Illustrated, a beautiful work, by Mr. I.S. Prout, published in Hobart Town, not long since. The entire surface of the island is estimated, roughly, at 24,000 square miles, or about 4000 square miles less than the extent of Ireland. The country is, however, but yet imperfectly explored, having been in the possession of the British little more than 40 years.

One of the illustrations shows the capital, Hobart Town, or Hobarton, as it is now called. It is built upon an undulating surface, receding from a cove on the exit of the river Derwent. Seen from the water, it seems to run up before you at a variety of ascents, and to spread itself upon the hills in the distance. Mount Wellington, which, during nine months of the year, is capped with snow, and which rises 4000 feet above the sea-level, stands at the back, in darkness and climity, and overlooks the surrounding scenery. The town is wel laid out, and some of the houses are large and handsome: a commercial establishment has nearly been completed here, at a cost of £4000. The companion View presents a specimen of the luxuriant vegatation of the settlement--Fern-tree Vally, Mount Wellington. The forests consist principally of different kinds of Eucalyptus, pines, and tree-like ferns. They are all evergreens, and have a sombre olive hue, wihtout a single lively tint, except that of the natve cherry, to break the monotony.

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