Hobart, city, capital and principal
port of Tasmania, SE Australia, at the foot of Mt. Wellington (4,166
ft/1,270 m high). Hobart's harbor is one of the finest in the world. The
city has diverse industries, including meatpacking, food processing, and the
making of textiles, chemicals, and glass. It was founded in 1804 and named
for Robert Hobart, the British colonial secretary. Hobart is the seat of the
Univ. of Tasmania (1890) and an important commercial and service center. The
Hobart Theatre Royal (1836) is the oldest major theater in Australia.
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