Kingston, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Kingston is a township and region on the outskirts of Hobart
, Tasmania
, Australia
. Nestled 15 km south of the city between and around several hills, Kingston is the council seat of its wider municipality, the Kingborough Council, and today serves as the gateway between Hobart and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
region, which meets the Derwent River
nearby. It one of the fastest growing regions in Tasmania.
Although the Kingston-Blackmans Bay region is statistically classed as a separate urban area to Hobart, Kingston is part of the Greater Hobart area. This is in part possibly due to the continuous urbanisation along the river front, its significant size, and the high number of Kingston residents working in the CBD of Hobart.
In 1804, the botanist Robert Brown
visited the area. Browns River, that runs from Mount Wellington
to Kingston Beach
is named after him. The area was settled in 1808 by Thomas Lucas and his family, who were evacuated from Norfolk Island
, and quickly the land became actively used by many pioneers who spread out to form the beginnings of Kingston’s localities today. In its early years, the area was also named after Brown, but when the population grew and a commercial district was established, Kingston was proclaimed a township in 1851.
The Kingston region comprises many suburban estates, including Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach. While the town is almost commercially sustainable on its own, most of the population work in the city but enjoy living in a quieter environment only a short drive away.
Kingston has close ties with the Dutch community, where after 1950 many post-war immigrants moved to an area they called ‘Little Groningen’ (today Firthside
); Kingborough is sister city
of Grootegast
, in the Netherlands
.
Kingston is home to six schools, a large sporting complex and a golf course, the headquarters of the Australian Antarctic Division
, and two major shopping centres, Kingston Town Shopping Centre and Channel Court Shopping Centre. The newest shopping centre complex opened in 2008 its new name is, Kingston Plaza, which was built over the existing Coles
supermarket site, comprising a new one and 15 other shops.
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Nestled 15 km south of the city between and around several hills, Kingston is the council seat of its wider municipality, the Kingborough Council, and today serves as the gateway between Hobart and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel
D'Entrecasteaux Channel
The D'Entrecasteaux Channel is a region of water between Bruny Island and the south-east of the mainland of Tasmania. It extends between the estuaries of the Derwent, and the Huon Rivers...
region, which meets the Derwent River
Derwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
nearby. It one of the fastest growing regions in Tasmania.
Although the Kingston-Blackmans Bay region is statistically classed as a separate urban area to Hobart, Kingston is part of the Greater Hobart area. This is in part possibly due to the continuous urbanisation along the river front, its significant size, and the high number of Kingston residents working in the CBD of Hobart.
In 1804, the botanist Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
visited the area. Browns River, that runs from Mount Wellington
Mount Wellington (Tasmania)
Mount Wellington is a mountain on whose foothills is built much of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is often referred to simply as 'the Mountain' by the residents of Hobart, and it rises to AHD over the city....
to Kingston Beach
Kingston Beach, Tasmania
Kingston Beach is a suburb of the greater Hobart area, capital of Tasmania, Australia. It is located on the Derwent River at the mouth of Browns Rivulet. At the nearby beach of the same name, a section of the Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club is located...
is named after him. The area was settled in 1808 by Thomas Lucas and his family, who were evacuated from Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, and quickly the land became actively used by many pioneers who spread out to form the beginnings of Kingston’s localities today. In its early years, the area was also named after Brown, but when the population grew and a commercial district was established, Kingston was proclaimed a township in 1851.
The Kingston region comprises many suburban estates, including Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach. While the town is almost commercially sustainable on its own, most of the population work in the city but enjoy living in a quieter environment only a short drive away.
Kingston has close ties with the Dutch community, where after 1950 many post-war immigrants moved to an area they called ‘Little Groningen’ (today Firthside
Firthside, Tasmania
Firthside is a neighbourhood within the suburb of Kingston, in the greater Hobart area, capital of Tasmania, Australia. It is located on the northern edge of the Kingston urban area....
); Kingborough is sister city
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of Grootegast
Grootegast
Grootegast is a municipality and a village in the northeastern Netherlands. It is the sister city of Kingston, Tasmania.- Population centres :Doezum, Enumatil, Faan, Grootegast, Kornhorn, Lutjegast, Niekerk, Oldekerk, Opende, Sebaldeburen....
, in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Kingston is home to six schools, a large sporting complex and a golf course, the headquarters of the Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
, and two major shopping centres, Kingston Town Shopping Centre and Channel Court Shopping Centre. The newest shopping centre complex opened in 2008 its new name is, Kingston Plaza, which was built over the existing Coles
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
supermarket site, comprising a new one and 15 other shops.
See also
- Kingston High School
- Calvin Christian School