Mount Nelson, Tasmania

Mount Nelson kriwalayti (Southeast Tasmanian) Hobart, Tasmania
Mount Nelson Signal Station Cafe
Mount Nelson
Coordinates	42°55′15″S 147°19′23″E / 42.92083°S 147.32306°E / -42.92083; 147.32306
Population	2,749 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	7007
LGA(s)	City of Hobart, Kingborough Council
State electorate(s)	Clark
Federal division(s)	Clark
Suburbs around Mount Nelson: Tolmans Hill Sandy Bay Sandy Bay Ridgeway Mount Nelson Sandy Bay The Lea Albion Heights Taroona

Mount Nelson (Nuenonne/palawa kani: kriwalayti)^[2] is a mountain suburb located on the southern boundary of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Positioned to the south of Hobart's CBD, Mount Nelson varies in elevation with its summit reaching 351 metres (1,152 ft) above sea level,^[3] offering panoramic views of the scenic Derwent estuary and surrounds.

The suburb is frequented by tourists visiting the historic Mount Nelson Signal Station, the Truganini Conservation Area, and students attending educational facilities including Hobart College and the Sustainability Learning Centre. It also offers sporting amenities including the University Soccer Club and Mount Nelson Oval.

Little is known about the Nuenonne nation, whose territory encompassed Mount Nelson and numerous inner-suburbs of Hobart. The Nuenonne people were profoundly affected by British colonisation starting in 1803, resulting in a substantial decrease in the Aboriginal Tasmanian population. Colonial official and pastor George Augustus Robinson, accompanied by Aboriginal guide Wurati, gained insights into the indigenous languages and naming conventions of the region during his 1830-31 expedition to the island's northeast. Wurati shared with Robinson various names for places, tribes, and people on the expedition, including the name "kriwalayti" from the Bruny Island language. Robinson documented this term in his manuscripts, associating it with name of Mount Nelson, which can be observed from Bruny Island. The latter part of "kriwalayti" signifies a variation of a southeastern word denoting 'hill', 'mountain', or 'peak', which echoes in other local toponyms. Notably, both the Nuenonne and Muwinina tribes of the Hobart and Sandy Bay areas belonged to the broader southeastern language group, threading cultural and linguistic ties of the region. "kriwalayti" has since been adopted by contemporary Palawa peoples in the reconstructed palawa kani language.^[2]

Mount Nelson was named by Governor Macquarie after the Brig HMS Lady Nelson that brought the first settlers/invaders to Hobart in 1803. Governor Macquarie came by the same ship in 1811.^[4] Mount Nelson was not, as might be expected, named after the British admiral of Trafalgar fame, Lord Horatio Nelson. It was named by Governor Macquarie in 1811 for the ship Lady Nelson because of the prominent role it had played in early Australian exploration and settlement.^[5] The is an assumption that Mt Nelson was named by Captain Bligh many years earlier. This is false, the Mount Nelson named by Bligh is on Bruny Island and is the peak to the ESE of Mt Mangana.^[6]

Significant suburban development in Mount Nelson commenced post-1945, driven by government initiatives to settle immigrants seeking refuge from the devastation wrought by World War II in Europe. This period witnessed the transformation of Mount Nelson into a thriving residential area. Additionally, the former firing range situated north of the bends on Nelson Road underwent conversion into university farmland for the University of Tasmania.

A Rialannah Post Office opened on 1 April 1948 and was renamed Mount Nelson in 1956. It closed in 1971.^[7] Mount Nelson was named by Governor Macquarie after the Brig HMS Lady Nelson that brought the first settlers/invaders to Hobart.

In 1967 a large number of houses were destroyed by the Black Tuesday Bushfires.^[8]

Governor Lachlan Macquarie's visit to Van Diemen's Land in 1811 led to the establishment of a signal post atop Mount Nelson. This post served to announce the arrival of ships entering the estuary.^[9][10] The semaphore technology at the signal station became obsolete with the introduction of Tasmania's inaugural telephone line in 1880, linking the Mount Nelson signal station to the Hobart telegraph office. Adjacent to the Signal Station stands the Signal Station Brasserie, housed in the original head signalman’s residence built in 1897.

Historically, signalling operations evolved from flag-based systems to semaphores, with a notable upgrade in 1838 to a towering six-armed semaphore capable of transmitting over 900,000 distinct signals. This network facilitated rapid communication between the penal settlement at Port Arthur and Hobart. Signalmen, often accompanied by their families, endured varying weather conditions, working in shifts from 6am to 9pm.^[9][11]

In 1880, Tasmania's first telephone line replaced the semaphore, marking the advent of modern telecommunications. Despite technological advancements, the station continued to play a crucial role.^[12] In 1938 doubts about its future were dispelled.^[13]

There was a base station for ship-to-shore radio-telephone communication in 1958. Operations ceased in 1969, ending 158 years of communication history. Since 1979, management of the Mount Nelson site has been under the purview of the Parks and Wildlife Service. Today, the station maintains ties to its heritage, flying the Tasmanian State flag daily and utilising International maritime signal flags to welcome ships and mark special occasions.^[14]

Geographically, Mount Nelson is positioned with its short northern boundary abutting the suburb area of Sandy Bay and extending through the University of Tasmania to Churchill Avenue. The northeast boundary follows Lambert Rivulet, traversing through the Skyline and Mount Nelson Signal Station Reserve, while the southern border adjoins the Kingborough Council.

Internally, the suburb of Mount Nelson is bordered by the areas of Fern Tree, Dynnyrne, Ridgeway, and Tolmans Hill, as well as the Southern Outlet. This unique geographic placement offers residents a harmonious blend of urban convenience and natural beauty.

The suburb of Mount Nelson spans approximately 5.9 square kilometres, encompassing 14 parklands covering nearly 16.3% of its total area. Constructed in 1908 to provide better access to the Mount Nelson signal station, the main road in Mount Nelson is Nelson Road, which extends up the mountain from the Wrest Point Hotel Casino into the Sandy Bay suburb.^[15][16]

Named after Nuennonne woman Truganini, the Truganini Conservation Area protects native bushland on Mount Nelson's southeast flank. A 90-minute bushwalk (4.2-kilometre (2.6 mi)) from the Signal Station to Sandy Bay offers glimpses of diverse vegetation, a Truganini Memorial, and opportunities to spot wildflowers and native birds, including the endangered swift parrot.^[17]

Mount Nelson is a key breeding ground for the endangered swift parrot. The area hosts around 1,000 breeding pairs, with ongoing conservation efforts focused on protecting and sustaining their habitat.^[18]

With an estimated resident population of 2,766 as of 2022, Mount Nelson contains a population density of 421.7 persons per square kilometre.^[19] In 2021, the predominant age group in Mount Nelson is 40 years with 2.5 residents per household.^[20]

Mount Nelson is served by the Mount Nelson Medical Centre, a general store, dental clinic and pharmacy. The Mount Nelson Fire Station is situated at 40 Olinda Grove.

Mount Nelson boasts several educational institutions, including Hobart College, one of the city's four public secondary colleges. Notably, Queen Mary of Denmark, wife of Frederik X, is an alumna of Hobart College.^[21] Mount Nelson is home to Mount Nelson Primary School, catering to approximately 200 students from kindergarten to Grade 6. The school serves as a feeder to Taroona High School and encompasses students from Mount Nelson and Tolmans Hill.

Mount Nelson is accessible via Proctors Road off the Southern Outlet and Nelson Road commencing in Sandy Bay. The suburb is serviced by Metro Tasmania bus routes 457, 458, X58^[22] and school routes direct to Hobart College 412, 413, 415 and 417.^[23]

• Piech, MA (1 January 2009), Large suburban and bush Tasmanian blue gums (Eucalyptus globulus) and black gums (Eucalyptus ovata) in Mount Nelson, Tasmania, as foraging resources for the endangered swift parrot (Lathanzus discolor), retrieved 5 March 2024

• Mount Nelson Page