Page 8 - The Outdoor Showman October - December 2022

From humble beginnings in 1838 the Royal Hobart Regatta has cemented itself into the psyche of Hobartians whilst growing into an unrivalled stalwart on the social and aquatic calendars for both Tasmanians as well as interstate visitors and competitors.
Known for over a century for its three-day celebration of aquatic pageantry, competitions and displays this entirely volunteer led event
is the jewel in the crown of the
Royal Hobart Regatta Association;
an organisation dedicated to the preservation and continued longevity of the events associated ideas, attitudes, values and traditions.
Centred both on and around the Derwent River estuary, this event, like the river itself flows through the heart of the capital and takes its lead from a proud and unparalleled history.
In 1838 the southernmost imperial British colony of ‘Hobart Town’
was a mere 34 years old and as
a period of evolutionary ‘honey- mooning’ grew to a close it was fast being replaced with a foreboding sense of growing ‘colonial unrest’.
In an effort to extinguish these smouldering coals of dissatisfaction, it was decreed by the then Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin and
Lady Jane Franklin that on Saturday December 1, 1838 the colony would host the first ever ‘Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta’. Sold as a homage to the island’s first sighting on 24 November, 1642 by 17th-century Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, the event would play host to traditional maritime pomp and splendour.
In lieu of compensation for the promise of free admission, beer
and nourishment, colonists were instead asked to adorn sprigs of silver blossom tied with British ‘Navy Blue’ ribbon. As the beer freely flowed
it was decided that the preceding Monday would be a public holiday and, to this day remains one of the
Royal Hobart
Regatta
185th celebration 11-13 February 2023
6T 6
T
H
HE
EO
OU
UT
TD
D
O
OO
O
R
RS
S
H
HO
O
W
W
M
MA
AN
N