In early 1804, the newly appointed lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen’s Land, David Collins, sailed into the Derwent River aboard the ship Ocean.

British naval officer John Bowen had already established Van Diemen’s Land’s first European settlement at Risdon Cove, but after inspecting it, Collins found the site unsuitable for a larger settlement. He searched for a better location along the Derwent and soon chose Sullivans Cove, which had a reliable supply of fresh water.

Collins and the settlers who accompanied him landed near Hunter Island in Sullivans Cove on 19 February 1804, effectively marking the foundation of present-day Hobart. Over time, Hunter Island disappeared through land reclamation and the development of Hobart’s waterfront.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Hobart’s founding, the First Settlers Monument (pictured above) was erected near where Hunter Island once was. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled it in an official ceremony during her 1954 visit to Tasmania.

Designed by an architect by the name of W.H. Furness, the monument was built by the Public Works Department from Tasmanian dolerite and granite. The bronze plaques on the monument describe Collins’ commission to establish a settlement along the Derwent River, the voyages of the ships Lady Nelson and Ocean to Sullivans Cove, and the landing near Hunter Island.

For the bicentenary of Hobart’s founding in 2004, additional plaques were installed on the monument, listing the names of the settlers who accompanied Collins to Sullivans Cove.

Tas That Was – First Settlers Monument 2

First Settlers Monument (2026)

References & Bibliography

Tas That Was is a column that includes:

  • anecdotes of life in Tasmania in the past;
  • historical photographs of locations in Tasmania; and/or
  • documentaries about locations in Tasmania.

If you have an anecdote or photograph you’d like to share with us, please send it to [email protected].

Callum J. Jones is passionate about telling stories. He studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania and lived in Western Sydney from 2022 to 2024 while working as a journalist for Professional Planner, a leading online publication for financial planners. Callum has written for Tasmanian Times since 2018 and has also been published in a range of other outlets, including Quadrant and the BAD Western Sydney anthologies.