REAST - Tasmania

Tasmanian Aborigines had well-established communities over the length of Tasmania thousands of years before the island was discovered by Europeans.

In 1642, a Dutch explorer named Abel Tasman was the first European to sight Tasmania. He initially named the island Van Diemen's Land after his employer, but parliament changed the name to Tasmania in 1856.

The French were the next Europeans to visit Tasmania, in 1772, followed by the English one year later.

To prevent the French from gaining a footing, the first settlement was established at Risdon Cove in 1803, by British Lieutenant John Bowen. Risdon Cove proved to be an unsuitable site owing to lack of fresh water and the poor landing place, as a result, in 1804, the settlement moved to Sullivans Cove on the opposite side of the River Derwent where Hobart stands today.

The city of Hobart was named Hobart Town after the British statesman Lord Robert Hobart. Hobart Town, which became the capital of Tasmania in 1825, was chartered as a city in 1857.

By 1822, with the growth of city populations, gaols in Britain were overcrowded and the Crown began transporting convicts to Tasmania. Thus one of Tasmania's most important early functions was as a penal colony.

Tasmania was once one of the most important whaling fleet homeports in the world; mining and agriculture also contributed to the early economy.

The clubrooms of the Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania (REAST), are located on top of the Queen’s Domain in Hobart.

Our clubhouse has a long and colourful history and has a historic connection with the exploration of Antarctica.

Douglas Mawson Expedition 1912

The Hobart station was the second of the chain built and thus ready for use with the 1.5KW Telefunken stations erected by Mawson at Macquarie Island (MQI) and Adelie Land (MAL).

Mawson's station at Macquarie Island could easily communicate with Hobart. The Hobart newspaper, the Daily Post, regularly reported on the ship stations contacted each night and "the land station on Macquarie Island".

However Mawson's station in Adelie Land was less successful, the very strong winds at Commonwealth Bay damaging the aerial mast and dry blowing snow generating static electricity which interfered with reception.

1915 on...

In 1915, the operation of the coast stations was taken over by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), this continued until 1922 when Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) was given the operation of the stations.

By 1924, VIH was using a De Forest ultra-audion valve receiver. The spark transmitter remained in service until replaced in 1926 by a 2 KW valve transmitter, much to the relief of local broadcast station listeners who had had to suffer interference blotting out the daylight reception of the Melbourne Cup results from 3LO.

After WWII, the station was run by the Overseas Telecommunication Commission (OTC) until it closed in 1992. The Wireless Institute of Australia, Tasmanian Division, Southern Branch took over the premises and REAST's club call sign (VK7OTC) recalls this history.

In recent years, the building has been shared with the Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group who operate the Coast Radio Hobart marine station from the clubrooms.



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Quick Links: Population Physical Features Climate Brief History Important Events Oldest in Australia Antarctic Connection Websites	Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmanian Inc. Tasmania General Information Sheet on Tasmania Information courtesy of Tourism Tasmania. POPULATION: Population is 483,000+. Population of Greater Hobart Area is 202,138+. Population of Launceston is 101,984+. Tasman Bridge, Hobart from Rose Bay at night PHYSICAL FEATURES: Area of state is 68,300 square kilometres. Total length of Tasmania's coastline including islands is 3,300 kilometres. Highest Mountain - Mt Ossa 1617 metres. Longest River - South Esk 201 kilometres. Largest Lake - Lake Gordon 272 square kilometres (man made). Tasmania is 240 kilometres south of the Australian mainland. CLIMATE: Tasmania's climate is best described as Maritime Cool Temperate. Average annual rainfall for Hobart is 626 mm. Mawson Place, Hobart Wharves at night Hobart is Australia's second driest capital city. Average Temperatures in degrees Celsius: Hobart Winter Min/Max: 5.4/12.5 Hobart Summer Min/Max: 12.8/21 BRIEF HISTORY: Tasmanian Aborigines had well-established communities over the length of Tasmania thousands of years before the island was discovered by Europeans. In 1642, a Dutch explorer named Abel Tasman was the first European to sight Tasmania. He initially named the island Van Diemen's Land after his employer, but parliament changed the name to Tasmania in 1856. The French were the next Europeans to visit Tasmania, in 1772, followed by the English one year later. To prevent the French from gaining a footing, the first settlement was established at Risdon Cove in 1803, by British Lieutenant John Bowen. Risdon Cove proved to be an unsuitable site owing to lack of fresh water and the poor landing place, as a result, in 1804, the settlement moved to Sullivans Cove on the opposite side of the River Derwent where Hobart stands today. The city of Hobart was named Hobart Town after the British statesman Lord Robert Hobart. Hobart Town, which became the capital of Tasmania in 1825, was chartered as a city in 1857. Mt Wellington from the Queen's Domain, Hobart in foreground. By 1822, with the growth of city populations, gaols in Britain were overcrowded and the Crown began transporting convicts to Tasmania. Thus one of Tasmania's most important early functions was as a penal colony. Tasmania was once one of the most important whaling fleet homeports in the world; mining and agriculture also contributed to the early economy. IMPORTANT EVENTS: The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Targa Tasmania - classic tarmac car rally Wooden Boat Festival Royal Hobart Show Hobart Summer festival including 'Taste of Tasmania' Ten Days on the Island - arts festival THE OLDEST IN AUSTRALIA… Tasmania has the oldest bridge still in use in Australia at Richmond. The oldest live theatre - The Theatre Royal in Hobart. The oldest brewery - Cascade Brewery in South Hobart. The oldest golf course in Australia at Bothwell. Anglesea Barracks, in Hobart, is the oldest military establishment in Australia still occupied by the Army. The oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia - the Bush Inn at New Norfolk. ANTARCTIC CONNECTION: The clubrooms of the Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania (REAST), are located on top of the Queen’s Domain in Hobart. Queen's Domain Clubrooms Our clubhouse has a long and colourful history and has a historic connection with the exploration of Antarctica. Douglas Mawson Expedition 1912 The Hobart station was the second of the chain built and thus ready for use with the 1.5KW Telefunken stations erected by Mawson at Macquarie Island (MQI) and Adelie Land (MAL). Mawson's station at Macquarie Island could easily communicate with Hobart. The Hobart newspaper, the Daily Post, regularly reported on the ship stations contacted each night and "the land station on Macquarie Island". However Mawson's station in Adelie Land was less successful, the very strong winds at Commonwealth Bay damaging the aerial mast and dry blowing snow generating static electricity which interfered with reception. 1915 on... In 1915, the operation of the coast stations was taken over by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), this continued until 1922 when Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) was given the operation of the stations. By 1924, VIH was using a De Forest ultra-audion valve receiver. The spark transmitter remained in service until replaced in 1926 by a 2 KW valve transmitter, much to the relief of local broadcast station listeners who had had to suffer interference blotting out the daylight reception of the Melbourne Cup results from 3LO. After WWII, the station was run by the Overseas Telecommunication Commission (OTC) until it closed in 1992. The Wireless Institute of Australia, Tasmanian Division, Southern Branch took over the premises and REAST's club call sign (VK7OTC) recalls this history. In recent years, the building has been shared with the Tasmanian Smallcraft Marine Radio Group who operate the Coast Radio Hobart marine station from the clubrooms. Sources/References Tourism Tasmania – www.discovertasmania.com.au Material from - www.tourismtasmania.com.au Club Historian.

Copyright © 2004-2010 REAST Inc. Last modified: February 10 2008 23:05:51. Webmeister: Thanks to oz-hams.org for the generous website hosting.