Princes Park
1811: Governor Lachlan Macquarie toured Hobart Town. He was not happy with the layout of the town and the towns defenses. He suggested permanent guns.
1812: Semaphore first installed.
1818: Mulgrave Battery was completed. The battery had six guns dug into the side of the hill.
Major Roger Kellsall a royal engineer wrote that the battery was useless and the colony was virtually undefended. He wrote a new plan for defending Hobart with new batteries that would be able to fire upon ships approaching Hobart.
1818: Guard house built. Becomes the signal station. Messages to Port Arthur via Mt Nelson.
1829: Semaphore used. Revolving arms. Three positions. Flags and pennants also used to signal messages.
1840: Construction of a new battery above Mulgrave Battery begins.
1841: The Prince of Wales Battery was completed.
1854: The Prince Albert Battery was constructed higher up the hill. These batteries were linked via tunnels.
1872: Three Russian ships arrived. The colony reviews its defenses and decided the three batteries were useless.
1878: Batteries were condemned and dismantling began.
1882: Sites were given to Hobart City Council. Tunnels were popular as a place for children to play and for nefarious activities.
1934: Tunnels permanently locked.
Today: A popular park. The “boat park.”
Popular with children. Play equipment; toilets; public water.
Popular with dogs. An off-lead area.
1812: Semaphore first installed.
1818: Mulgrave Battery was completed. The battery had six guns dug into the side of the hill.
Major Roger Kellsall a royal engineer wrote that the battery was useless and the colony was virtually undefended. He wrote a new plan for defending Hobart with new batteries that would be able to fire upon ships approaching Hobart.
1818: Guard house built. Becomes the signal station. Messages to Port Arthur via Mt Nelson.
1829: Semaphore used. Revolving arms. Three positions. Flags and pennants also used to signal messages.
1840: Construction of a new battery above Mulgrave Battery begins.
1841: The Prince of Wales Battery was completed.
1854: The Prince Albert Battery was constructed higher up the hill. These batteries were linked via tunnels.
1872: Three Russian ships arrived. The colony reviews its defenses and decided the three batteries were useless.
1878: Batteries were condemned and dismantling began.
1882: Sites were given to Hobart City Council. Tunnels were popular as a place for children to play and for nefarious activities.
1934: Tunnels permanently locked.
Today: A popular park. The “boat park.”
Popular with children. Play equipment; toilets; public water.
Popular with dogs. An off-lead area.