Stadium Site – Polluted & Forgotten Industrial Land

The debate over the proposed Macquarie Point stadium has largely centred on its staggering cost and economic necessity, but a recent historical exploration reminds us of a more fundamental question – what exactly are we building on?

This video, produced by Angus Thornett* – “Going Inside the Lost Suburb of Wapping in Hobart, Tasmania,” explores the forgotten history of Wapping, a district that was instrumental to Hobart’s early economy but became infamous as “the most disgusting place in Tasmania” [00:27].

This low-lying, industrial area was flood-prone and heavily polluted, with the Hobart Rivulet often slowed to a “clag of unmoving sludge” [02:44].

The ground itself, now earmarked for a multi-million dollar infrastructure programme, was also the site of the city’s sanitary depot, where “night soil” (human waste) was collected and transferred to boats at Macquarie Point [15:43] for disposal.

Adding a further layer of complexity, the area was also home to an old gas works, the disorderly decommissioning of which [12:23] left pipes containing poisonous gas buried beneath the city, their exact locations unknown today [13:33].

As the government continues to champion its vision for the future, the historical truth of the contentious stadium site—a history of being reclaimed, undesirable land—and what this means for the integrity of one of the state’s most critical development proposals.

 *About The Author – Angus Thornett

Angus Thornett is a popular Tasmanian historian and YouTube content creator. His videos specialise in shedding light on the history, mystery and forgotten corners of Hobart and Tasmania.

Thornett produces historical clips typically lasting 10 to 15 minutes, which are known for their “original way with words,” use of archival photos, and excellent drone camera skills. His work frequently focuses on challenging or overlooked topics, such as the history of South Hobart, the Great Fire of Hobart and the “Erased Shoreline of Hobart”.

Thornett has a direct connection to Tasmanian Times, with an archive of his articles on our website, including pieces titled Idiot Train – What Killed the Sorell Line? and Mindscape of New Town (Parts I & II).

Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse presentation of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.

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