How did hobart get its name?

The city of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia, received its name in honour of Robert Hobart, the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies from 1812 to 1816. This was done to commemorate his contribution in developing the region known as Van Diemen's Land, which included the establishment of settlements and the expansion of infrastructure.

Here is a more detailed account of how the city got its name:

In 1803, the British established a penal colony on the island of Tasmania, which was then known as Van Diemen's Land. The colony's first settlement, located on the River Derwent, was originally called "Sullivan Cove."

In 1804, the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, David Collins, decided to move the settlement to a more suitable location. He chose a site on the eastern shore of the River Derwent, which offered better access to fresh water and was more defensible.

Collins named the new settlement "Hobart Town" in honour of Robert Hobart, who was the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time. This was done as a tribute to Hobart's contributions to the development and progress of the British colonies.

The name "Hobart Town" remained in use until the 1900s when it was officially shortened to "Hobart." Today, the city is still known as Hobart and serves as the capital of Tasmania.