I admit it. I can’t deny it.
The Domain is an area of native bush in the middle of Hobart.
The native bush is not perfect native bush. It has degenerated. Many
original native species have been replaced by foreign species. Many of these
introduced species like their new environment. They have become naturalised.
They have become part of the local environment.
If you have botanical knowledge you will know the Domain houses many unusual
species. Many native plants on the
Domain are rare, endangered threatened or just surviving. The only threatened
birds and animals still present on the Domain are probably some snails and a
skink. It is possible that the threatened tussock skink hangs on and lives very
close to an empty cage in Beaumaris Zoo. The cage once housed a much
photographed thylacine.
If you wander on the Domain you will see amongst the native bush
evidence of humans. Hobartians past and present have left their mark on the
Domain. The Cenotaph, The TCA and Government house are the grand structures.
The Powder Magazine and Mawson’s radio masts are less grand. Every edifice
houses a story.
Sports fields are scattered over the Domain. Very few Hobartians have not played or
watched a sporting event on the Domain. Every sports field can tell two
stories. One about famous people who have played there. The other story is
about all the locals playing and improving their health. Physical, mental and
social.
I helped give birth to the Domain website and I hope it lives a long
and successful life.
I hope it learn from its mistakes and grows. Most mistakes I will
become aware of when somebody takes the trouble of telling me.
I anticipate that in the future when I receive correct facts I will
adjust and update the website. Mistakes, errors and wrong posts followed by
corrections will prove the website is alive.
The Domain is more than a few scattered sports fields and neglected
buildings. It is an integral part of Hobart.
Since 1804 the Domain has confronted many issues:
Conflict between the people living there originally and newly arrived European
settlers.
What environment is best. Should it involve preserving purely natural
flora and fauna?
What community ceremonies are appropriate? The statues remain but with
time the ceremonies have changed. Time for a new ceremony to remember people on
the front line in the war against Corona.
Governance. Initially managed by local aborigines. Then controlled by
the Queen. In 1858 she gave the land to Hobart City Council.
Cars. Is the car helping people
access the Domain or helping destroy it? Many people begin their visit to the
Domain by driving and parking there. Car parks are devouring and destroying
valuable native bush on the Domain. At the same time Highways are isolating and
separating the Domain from local pedestrians. A new pedestrian bridge has just
been constructed for commuters who park their cars on the Domain. Is driving,
parking then walking a good result for the Domain.
One issue the Domain faced uniquely was in 1975. Destruction of the
Tasman Bridge altered traffic flow around the Domain in both the short and long
term.
Many people around the world will see similarities between their home
city and Hobart. I welcome this.
Us Hobartians have not done anything dramatically better or worse than
anywhere else. We have faced similar issues as elsewhere. Maybe our solutions are
worse or better than elsewhere. What matters is that we and you talk about the
issues.
I also want to thank many other people who made the Domain Website
possible:
Convicts, with no descendants, who live on in the buildings they built. The Powder Magazine; the Powder Jetty; Government House and Arthurs Wall at the Botanical gardens,
Workers; at the aquatic centre; the Botanical gardens and mowing the grass.
Volunteers at Tasmanian Masters Athletics; the parkrun; the soccer; the cricket and dog training.
Mountain bikers; dog walkers and joggers who greet me.
Convicts, with no descendants, who live on in the buildings they built. The Powder Magazine; the Powder Jetty; Government House and Arthurs Wall at the Botanical gardens,
Workers; at the aquatic centre; the Botanical gardens and mowing the grass.
Volunteers at Tasmanian Masters Athletics; the parkrun; the soccer; the cricket and dog training.
Mountain bikers; dog walkers and joggers who greet me.
The annual parading Anzacs.
Freezing parents huddling and watching their child become a soccer champion.
Freezing parents huddling and watching their child become a soccer champion.
Tennis players running and hitting tennis balls on some very good
courts.
Cricket players calling, “Catch it.”
The three local designers of the railway roundabout.
The crowd who grabbed their opportunity and saw AC DC.
Men who built the diversion tunnel with sweat.
Douglas Mawson and the radio masts he erected to communicate with
himself in Antarctica.
And anybody who has ever been or may ever go to the Domain.
The Domain is a part of my life. If you read on you will see a lot of
posts which don’t mention the Domain. This blog is not a single issue blog. A
blog where every post comes back to the same issue. Like everybody else who
visits the Domain I have a life outside the Domain. My life outside the Domain
is made better and stronger because of the Domain.
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