ROYAL HOBART REGATTA CELEBRATES 185 YEARS

Words: Amanda Double

From February 11-13, the Royal Hobart Regatta returns in what will be the 185th anniversary since this aquatic carnival was first held in Hobart Town.

In 1831 the Hobart ‘Arrow Club’ organised what is thought to be Tasmania’s first regatta, with a single race of 11 boats. However, Saturday, 1 December, 1838 was the date fixed by Governor Sir John Franklin for the first official regatta in Hobart Town, held to commemorate the anniversary of the brief visit by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman to Van Diemen’s Land in 1642.

The True Colonist Van Diemen’s Land Political Despatch, and Agricultural and Commercial Advertiser newspaper published an account of the day in its 7 December 1838 issue: “The weather was as propitious as any man could wish. As early as 8 o’clock, Hobart Town began to pour forth its population in crowds, some of whom assembled on Macquarie Point, others took their station on the New Wharf, and a considerable number proceeded at once to the Pavilion Point (as it is now called) — most of the shops were shut, and many private families shut up their houses and gave their servants a holiday also. Sullivan’s Cove exhibited a most lively and brilliant scene, being crowded with boats and sailing crafts of all sorts and sizes, decked with flags and streamers, and constantly in motion. At 10 o’clock, His Excellency Sir John Franklin and suite embarked in the Governor’s barge, carrying the St. George’s ensign. The ‘flotilla’ [of some 60 boats] immediately moved off, round Macquarie Point... We never saw so many people collected in any place in this colony. It has been estimated that there could not be fewer than 12,000 assembled on shore and afloat.”

The Hobart Town Courier newspaper’s account and estimate of crowd numbers (also published on 7 December) differed a little: “Hobart had by this time poured forth by far the greater portion of its population, and high and low, rich and poor, were commingled together apparently intent only upon the enjoyment of the animated and bustling scene before them...The calculation of the number of people present upon this occasion differs materially, some laying it as high as nine thousand. We are disposed to estimate it at between five and six thousand. It is very certain that in addition to the large population of Hobart, a large number of persons crossed at Roseneath-ferry [Austin’s], and numbers also came from the Richmond district, Kangaroo-point, and Clarence-plains.”

According to a much later account published in The Mercury on 17 February 1873, the Regatta was in fact initially suggested by Lady Franklin: “It was late in the year when it was thought of, and was therefore rather hastily got up and the programme of the day contained only five events, the prize-money amounting in all to just one hundred and fifty sovereigns, besides a silver cup that was presented to Sir John Franklin by a citizen of Hobart Town for regatta purposes, to be awarded according to his discretion, and which he devoted to a sixth race for the season boats of the great match of the day, namely, the whaleboat race.”

The 1838 True Colonist account described the whaleboat race in lyrical fashion: “...we never saw a more beautiful sight than the start of the sixteen whale boats; previous to starting they all hung on to a warp, one end of which was made fast to a wattle tree on shore and the other to a boat moored in the river, the force of the sea breeze and the flowing of the tide bent the line into a perfect crescent, which had a most beautiful effect, when the starting gun fired the several boats flew off like arrows. The distance which they had to pull was computed at eight or nine miles and was performed in 45 minutes, being at the rate of twelve miles an hour. The manoeuvreing of the sailing boats against wind and tide was very interesting, but the dingy race afforded the most amusement, because the distance sculled was so short that they were distinctly seen from the starting to the winning post.” The winner of the whaleboat race was fittingly named the “Lady Franklin”, steered by Mr J. Harper.

Adding to the festive mood, there were plenty of refreshments on shore, according to the Courier, “both in private pavillions, tents, and marquees, and in the public booths, the occupiers of which had a large supply of excellent viands, which were dispensed to the public at a reasonable rate.”

Much of the food and beer was free, reported the True Colonist: “We observed that several of the Brewers sent out hogsheads of ale for gratuitous distribution, and long and loud was the disputation as to the comparative merits of the different taps, but the majority appeared to be in favour of Degraves [that is, Peter Degraves, of the Cascade Brewery] which besides the well known merits of his ale was partly produced by the great pains which he had taken to have it fine and in a proper state for drinking.”

The Hobart Regatta with its annual public holiday became an important event in Hobart’s social and sporting calendar, later expanding into the three-day long weekend event that we celebrate todaycomplete with competitions, exhibitions, military displays, music, carnival sideshows and other family entertainments on Queens Domain and the River Derwent. From 1879 the December long weekend was moved to January and February, and in 1934, King George V conferred an honour – the title to be thenceforth known as the ‘Royal Hobart Regatta’.

Although it continued throughout both Word Wars, it was cancelled in 1853 and 1854, and again in 1967 in the wake of the ‘Black Tuesday’ bushfires. According to its governing body the Royal Hobart Regatta Association, it “...now boasts the title for oldest, continuing of its kind within greater Australia.“ And long may it carry on. President David Skegg remarks in the Association’s 2022/2023 Annual Report: “Our Association now heads into new territory, with a new structure, and the energy and enthusiasm of a younger set within our management teams, and we look forward to the changes they will encourage, and make.”

As Kenneth Grahame wrote in The Wind in the Willows, “...there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”