Museums in Hobart, Australia – Virtual Tour

Hobart is the capital and largest city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to about half of all Tasmanians, Hobart is Australia’s second oldest capital city after Sydney.

The modern history of Hobart dates to its foundation as a British penal colony in 1804. Before British settlement, the area had been occupied over 35,000 years ago, by the descendants of the indigenous Tasmanians.

Whaling emerged as a significant industry in Hobart, and it served as the Southern Ocean’s main whaling port during the peak of the industry.

In the 20th century, an economic boom due to mining and agriculture led to an influx of immigration. Today, Hobart has the highest percentage of Australian-born residents among Australia’s capital cities.

Today, Hobart serves as the home port for several Antarctic operations.

The city’s highlights include its convict-era architecture and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), the Southern Hemisphere’s largest private museum.