Graduation weekend

By Suzanne Wyatt December 2016

Photo Essay assignment

In late 2014, nearly 1200 students of all ages and from all walks of life, began their journey towards gaining their Diploma of Family History.

For some it was their first time studying at a university but in August 2017, many will be graduating.

The ceremony will take place in Federation Concert Hall beside the Grand Chancellor Hotel.

Some students will be staying over the weekend and have asked local historians about interesting places they could visit that relate to family history.

Where would I, as a local, suggest they go?

Walk around historic Battery Point and Salamanca Place.

Visit Arthur’s Circus with its tiny cottages; look at the 1830s birch pews inside St George’s Church and walk down Kelly’s Steps to the New Wharf area of Hobart.

Money to spend means heading to Wrest Point Casino, the oldest in Australia.

Hop on a bus to Cascades Female Factory in South Hobart but make sure you arrive just before midday for the dramatised story of life in the factory.

Walk to the ‘Tench’ or penitentiary where many early convicts were confined before being sent off for assignment to local settlers.

Time for a leisurely stroll and picnic lunch at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, officially established in 1818.

A productive farm since 1806 when John Hangan and his wife grew wheat, barley, fruit trees and vegetables for the population of old Hobart Town.

Now it is often seen on the ABC program ‘Gardening Australia’ where the community garden provides lots of produce for local organizations.

A visit to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, half an hour by car north of Hobart, would mean an introduction to Tasmanian animals like the Tassie Devil, birds and bandicoots.

Make sure you are there at feeding time.

This will interest your spouse and children who may have come on this trip to Tasmania with you.

No family historian should leave Tasmania without seeing Port Arthur and the crumbling remnants of a convict past.

While on the Tasman Peninsula, visit Salt Water River and the coal mines where many badly behaved convicts served their time.

This is certainly a chance to reflect on times gone by and how the world has changed for the better we hope.

If the graduation ceremony takes place on Friday, then a must view for Saturday is Salamanca Market.

Get there early for some fresh produce but remember you might not be able to take this out of Tasmania due to quarantine restrictions.

Lots of cafes, galleries and shops with boutique items found here throughout the weekend.

Oh,no! Time to head home. I hope you enjoyed your graduation weekend around Hobart; visit again and travel further afield.