HOBART LOCAL HISTORY

Once known as Van Diemen's Land, the island was settled primarily as a penal colony, and also as a defence post to prevent other Europeans, particularly the French, from settling the land. Transportation of prisoners stopped in 1856. In the same year the first parliamentary elections were held and the island's name was changed to Tasmania.

Little is known of any of Tasmania's Aboriginal people, who were wiped out in such a short time in what was known as the Black War. In 1830 the remaining Aboriginal population was rounded up and transported to Flinders Island, until the last known descendant passed away. The last of Tasmania's original inhabitants died in 1876, less than eighty years after Europeans came to the island.

Tasmania is best known for its natural history. The ancient land has living traces of prehistoric fauna and much of the state is protected as a national park. Threats to this phenomenal natural history from the 1960s through to the 80s inspired Tasmania's strong conservation movement, with headquarters in Hobart. Significantly, the proposed damming of the Franklin and Gordon Rivers brought protesters from around Australia and the world, and lifted the nation's environmental consciousness.

Following these successful protests, in 1989 Green Independents gained 18% of the vote to hold the balance of power in the state parliament.