Tas That Was – Constitution Dock

The area that would become Constitution Dock – as well as the Derwent River as a whole – was originally occupied by the Muwinina people.

After the British established Hobart in 1804, Sullivans Cove quickly became a harbour used by convict transports, supply ships, and naval vessels. At the time, the shoreline was natural and irregular – proper docks were not built until later.

From the 1820s onwards, Hobart developed into a major maritime port, driven largely by whaling and the growing number of ships requiring berthing and unloading facilities.

In 1847, the lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen’s Land, William Denison, ordered the construction of a new dock along Hobart’s waterfront. This would become Constitution Dock, named after the Australian Constitutions Act 1850, which established self-governing legislative frameworks within the colony.

Built with convict labour using excavated rock, soil, and other locally sourced materials, the dock was completed in 1850 and officially opened on 3 December that year.

Constitution Dock became central to Hobart’s economy. Goods were unloaded there, while exports, including timber and whale oil, were shipped from the dock.

Rail infrastructure was later extended to the dock, and cranes and cargo-handling systems were progressively improved over time.

Constitution Dock remained a working commercial dock until December 1945, when it served as the finish line for the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. In the years that followed, large-scale shipping operations shifted to newer port facilities elsewhere in Hobart, and Constitution Dock became the home of smaller vessels.

During the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, the dock evolved into a public waterfront precinct while continuing to serve as the finish line of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The surrounding historic warehouses were also restored during this period.

Today, Constitution Dock functions as a marina for yachts and fishing boats, a centrepiece of Hobart’s waterfront culture, and a focal point for festivals and tourism. It remains the finishing point of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, which attracts large crowds every year.

References & Bibliography

• Famous Constitution Dock – but which constitution? (Hobart History)
• Constitution Dock (Tasmania.com)
• Constitution Dock Hobart (Enjoy Tasmania)
• Constitution Dock (Kupi.com)
• Constitution Dock Scheme (The Mercury, Tuesday 2 June 1936, page 10)

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 submit@tasmaniantimes.com.

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.