Sprent's Hobart, circa 1845

Abstract

James Sprent's comprehensive survey of Hobart Town was carried out towards the end of an era of rapid population increase. The pattern of occupance and the characteristics of the buildings recorded by Sprent are examined after first tracing the physical growth of the town,to the 1840s. The 1847 valuation of Hobart property is represented cartographically and related to physical and functional factors. Central area functions are analysed in detail and characteristics of commerce, manufacturing and port activity are presented. The persistence of Sprent's Hobart in the 1960s is shown by the assessment of townscape.