Montagu Bay, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Montagu Bay is a suburb of Hobart
, Tasmania
, located in the City of Clarence on the eastern shore of the Derwent River
, about four kilometres from the city centre of greater Hobart. It is a small primarily residential suburb squeezed in between Rosny
, Rose Bay
and Lindisfarne
and is centred around a small bay of the same name. The bay has a boat ramp and jetty, and is frequently filled with yachts and other vessels at anchor.
to be settled on the eastern shore of Hobart's Derwent River, starting from the 1820s. It soon grew into a small hamlet of a few houses, with a warm, friendly spirit amongst a few residents, who in many cases descended to second and third generations.
They were attracted by a fresh water creek which ran into the bay, and still exists as an uncovered storm water canal. The name of a nearby street, Loinah Road, is derived from the local Aboriginal dialect word for "drinking place".
The name "Montagu Bay" appears to come from Algernon Montagu, who was an Attorney General and the judge in the fledgling colony. He bought a property of 800 acres (3.2 km²) and house of 14 rooms in the area, named Rosny House. It was believed the mansion stood on what is now Balaka Street in Rosny. Rosny House was later known as Montagu House, and was clearly marked on naval charts from 1863.
The Eastern Shore of Hobart was slow to develop, in comparison to the areas located immediately around Hobart itself. Rosny and Montagu Bay remained a small settlement for most of the 19th century, and first half of the 20th century. The area really started to grow with the opening of the Hobart Bridge
in 1943, which met the eastern shore at Montagu Bay.
The opening of the bridge caused rapid growth in immediate suburbs, and Montagu Bay experienced a boom in housing, particularly Housing Department houses in the 1940s and 1950s. This growth led to pressure upon the bridge, which was replaced with the better capacity Tasman Bridge
in 1964, which also had its eastern point at Montagu Bay.
Montagu Bay featured in the world's spotlight in early 1975, when the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra crashed into the Tasman Bridge, bringing down a section of the roadway. The disaster response was co-ordinated from Montagu Bay Cricket Oval, as was the rebuilding process.
Since very early on in its history, the Royal Hobart Regatta
's famous trans-Derwent
swim, a river crossing of approximately 1.5 km in incredibly strong currents, has begun from Montagu Bay. The swim was suspended for some years in the 1990s due to high pollution levels in the river, but the race has recently been re-incorporated into the regatta following a decline in the pollution levels.
, Tasman Bridge
, and Mount Wellington
.
It is home to Montagu Bay Primary School, and has two large cricket ovals, one next to the school, and another built on landfill in the bay itself. The school is also home to a sculpture of a giant hand carved from pine wood.
Another famous feature is the boat building shed which has existed since the early 1920s. The Eastern shore cycle path travels through Montagu Bay along the shoreline.
Although home to a couple of small independent shops and a hairdresser, the suburb is practically free of commercial services, relying upon nearby Eastlands Shopping Centre at Rosny Park
. Montagu Bay is also home the Clarence Sports Centre
, as well as an Olympic swimming pool, originally known as The Clarence War Memorial Pool, which was built in 1963. It was most famous throughout the 1980s and 1990s for its large white inflatable bubble which covered the pool, turning it into an indoor centre. This probably made the Clarence Pool into Tasmania's Premier Swimming venue during that period. Following the construction of the Hobart Aquatic Centre
it was decided by the Clarence City Council to redevelop the venue, and it reopened in 2004 as a superb indoor venue, renamed as the Clarence Aquatic Centre
.
The Tasmanian SES
has an emergency response headquarters in Montagu Bay, due to the closeness of the Tasman Bridge, and its previous disaster. There is also a Scout Hall, home to the 1st Montagu Bay Scout troop, and Rosny Childcare Centre in Montagu Bay. There is also a cricket team called Montagu Bay Cricket Club, but they generally play their home games in nearby Geilston Bay
due to the better facilities there.
There are two churches in Montagu Bay, St. James Anglican church, and a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as a former Fire Station which has been converted into a Buddhist Temple within the suburb. A previous Catholic Church
, which also temporarily served as Montagu Bay Primary School, was abandoned and demolished, replaced with housing units.
Montagu Bay is well served by public transport with Metro Tasmania
's bus routes 240, 241, 242, 243, 243C, 244, and 245 all passing through the suburb. Most of these travel from Hobart Bus Station
to Rosny Park Transit Mall
, although sometimes bus services continue to nearby suburbs of Mornington
, Warrane
and Camelot Park. Other bus services can be accessed by a nearby bus stop on the Tasman Highway
.
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, located in the City of Clarence on the eastern shore of the Derwent River
Derwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
, about four kilometres from the city centre of greater Hobart. It is a small primarily residential suburb squeezed in between Rosny
Rosny, Tasmania
Rosny is a suburb of the City of Clarence, part of the greater Hobart area, Tasmania, Australia. It is located on the eastern shore of the Derwent River, between the suburbs of Montagu Bay and Rosny Park, approximately 4 kilometres from Hobart's centre. Rosny is the residential part of its...
, Rose Bay
Rose Bay, Tasmania
Rose Bay is a suburb of City of Clarence in greater Hobart, capital city of Tasmania, Australia.Primarily a residential area serviced by shopping centres at Lindisfarne and Rosny Park....
and Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne, Tasmania
Lindisfarne is a suburb of Hobart's Eastern Shore, located approximately 6 kilometres from the City Centre and is part of the municipal City of Clarence.-History:...
and is centred around a small bay of the same name. The bay has a boat ramp and jetty, and is frequently filled with yachts and other vessels at anchor.
History
Montagu Bay and its neighbour Rosny were one of the first areas, along with nearby BelleriveBellerive, Tasmania
Bellerive is a suburb of the City of Clarence, part of the greater Hobart area, Tasmania, Australia. It stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where...
to be settled on the eastern shore of Hobart's Derwent River, starting from the 1820s. It soon grew into a small hamlet of a few houses, with a warm, friendly spirit amongst a few residents, who in many cases descended to second and third generations.
They were attracted by a fresh water creek which ran into the bay, and still exists as an uncovered storm water canal. The name of a nearby street, Loinah Road, is derived from the local Aboriginal dialect word for "drinking place".
The name "Montagu Bay" appears to come from Algernon Montagu, who was an Attorney General and the judge in the fledgling colony. He bought a property of 800 acres (3.2 km²) and house of 14 rooms in the area, named Rosny House. It was believed the mansion stood on what is now Balaka Street in Rosny. Rosny House was later known as Montagu House, and was clearly marked on naval charts from 1863.
The Eastern Shore of Hobart was slow to develop, in comparison to the areas located immediately around Hobart itself. Rosny and Montagu Bay remained a small settlement for most of the 19th century, and first half of the 20th century. The area really started to grow with the opening of the Hobart Bridge
Hobart Bridge
The Hobart Bridge was a pontoon bridge that crossed the River Derwent, connecting the eastern and western Shores of the City of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.- History :...
in 1943, which met the eastern shore at Montagu Bay.
The opening of the bridge caused rapid growth in immediate suburbs, and Montagu Bay experienced a boom in housing, particularly Housing Department houses in the 1940s and 1950s. This growth led to pressure upon the bridge, which was replaced with the better capacity Tasman Bridge
Tasman Bridge
The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The bridge has a total length of 1,395 metres . It provides the main traffic route from the CBD to the eastern shore - particularly Hobart International Airport and Bellerive Oval...
in 1964, which also had its eastern point at Montagu Bay.
Montagu Bay featured in the world's spotlight in early 1975, when the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra crashed into the Tasman Bridge, bringing down a section of the roadway. The disaster response was co-ordinated from Montagu Bay Cricket Oval, as was the rebuilding process.
Since very early on in its history, the Royal Hobart Regatta
Royal Hobart Regatta
The Royal Hobart Regatta began in 1838, is a series of aquatic competitions and displays held annually in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and is Tasmania's oldest sporting event. The regatta runs for three days, ending on the second Monday in February, and dominates the whole river for the duration of...
's famous trans-Derwent
Derwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
swim, a river crossing of approximately 1.5 km in incredibly strong currents, has begun from Montagu Bay. The swim was suspended for some years in the 1990s due to high pollution levels in the river, but the race has recently been re-incorporated into the regatta following a decline in the pollution levels.
Features
Montagu Bay is notable for its views of the Derwent RiverDerwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
, Tasman Bridge
Tasman Bridge
The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The bridge has a total length of 1,395 metres . It provides the main traffic route from the CBD to the eastern shore - particularly Hobart International Airport and Bellerive Oval...
, and Mount Wellington
Mount Wellington (Tasmania)
Mount Wellington is a mountain on whose foothills is built much of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is often referred to simply as 'the Mountain' by the residents of Hobart, and it rises to AHD over the city....
.
It is home to Montagu Bay Primary School, and has two large cricket ovals, one next to the school, and another built on landfill in the bay itself. The school is also home to a sculpture of a giant hand carved from pine wood.
Another famous feature is the boat building shed which has existed since the early 1920s. The Eastern shore cycle path travels through Montagu Bay along the shoreline.
Although home to a couple of small independent shops and a hairdresser, the suburb is practically free of commercial services, relying upon nearby Eastlands Shopping Centre at Rosny Park
Rosny Park, Tasmania
Rosny Park is a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, located in the City of Clarence on the eastern shore of the Derwent River. It is about five kilometres from the city centre of Hobart...
. Montagu Bay is also home the Clarence Sports Centre
Clarence Sports Centre
The Clarence Sports Centre is a multi-sport facility within the suburb of Montagu Bay in the City of Clarence, Tasmania, Australia.It is a large facility located next to the Clarence Aquatic Centre, and contains two full sized indoor basketball courts, which also have additional markings and are...
, as well as an Olympic swimming pool, originally known as The Clarence War Memorial Pool, which was built in 1963. It was most famous throughout the 1980s and 1990s for its large white inflatable bubble which covered the pool, turning it into an indoor centre. This probably made the Clarence Pool into Tasmania's Premier Swimming venue during that period. Following the construction of the Hobart Aquatic Centre
Hobart Aquatic Centre
The $17 million centre known as The Hobart Aquatic Centre is a major aquatic sporting facility located upon the Queens Domain, within less than 1 kilometre of the CBD of Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, Australia....
it was decided by the Clarence City Council to redevelop the venue, and it reopened in 2004 as a superb indoor venue, renamed as the Clarence Aquatic Centre
Clarence Aquatic Centre
The Clarence Aquatic Centre is a major aquatic sporting facility located in Montagu Bay, in the city of Clarence, Tasmania, Australia.The facility originally opened in 1963 as the Clarence War Memorial Pool, an outdoor 50-metre pool, with a children's wading pool and a toddler's splash pool. The...
.
The Tasmanian SES
State Emergency Service
A State Emergency Service is an Australian volunteer organisation that provides emergency help during and after declared disasters. The SES is also the primary or secondary agency for emergencies, such as storm damage,flood damage, building damage, traffic hazards and road crash rescue...
has an emergency response headquarters in Montagu Bay, due to the closeness of the Tasman Bridge, and its previous disaster. There is also a Scout Hall, home to the 1st Montagu Bay Scout troop, and Rosny Childcare Centre in Montagu Bay. There is also a cricket team called Montagu Bay Cricket Club, but they generally play their home games in nearby Geilston Bay
Geilston Bay, Tasmania
Geilston Bay is a small suburb of Hobart near Lindisfarne, in the City of Clarence located on the Eastern Shore of the Derwent River. Its a nature-rich suburb with houses built right next to bushland. Shag Bay Aboriginal Site and the local Boat Club are two main features of the suburb...
due to the better facilities there.
There are two churches in Montagu Bay, St. James Anglican church, and a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as a former Fire Station which has been converted into a Buddhist Temple within the suburb. A previous Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, which also temporarily served as Montagu Bay Primary School, was abandoned and demolished, replaced with housing units.
Montagu Bay is well served by public transport with Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania
Metro Tasmania is the primary provider of public transport in the Australian state of Tasmania. For bus timetable and route information see the...
's bus routes 240, 241, 242, 243, 243C, 244, and 245 all passing through the suburb. Most of these travel from Hobart Bus Station
Hobart Bus Station
Hobart Bus Station, more commonly referred to as "Hobart Bus Mall" is a section of Elizabeth Street which serves as Metro Tasmania's primary bus terminus in Hobart's CBD...
to Rosny Park Transit Mall
Rosny Park Transit Mall
Rosny Park Transit Mall is a section of Bligh Street in Rosny Park located between Eastlands Shopping Centre and Rosny Park Post Office which is closed to normal traffic to allow it to be devoted as a Metro Tasmania bus interchange. The transit mall is the section of Bligh Street located between...
, although sometimes bus services continue to nearby suburbs of Mornington
Mornington, Tasmania
Mornington is a suburb of the City of Clarence in Tasmania, Australia. It is part of greater Hobart, located approximately 7 kilometres from the CBD...
, Warrane
Warrane, Tasmania
Warrane is a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, in the City of Clarence. It is approximately from Hobart's CBD. It is located between Rosny Park and Mornington and runs parallel to the Tasman Highway....
and Camelot Park. Other bus services can be accessed by a nearby bus stop on the Tasman Highway
Tasman Highway
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart...
.