Mount Nelson, Tasmania

Mount Nelson (Nuenonne/palawa kani: kriwalayti) is a mountain suburb located on the southern boundary of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Positioned to the south of Hobart's CBD, Mount Nelson offers panoramic views of the scenic Derwent estuary and surrounds. With an estimated resident population of 2,766 as of 2022, Mount Nelson contains a population density of 421.7 persons per square kilometre.

The suburb is frequented by tourists visiting the historic Mount Nelson Signal Station, the Truganini Conservation Area, and students attending educational facilities including Hobart College and the Sustainability Learning Centre. It also offers sporting amenities including the University Soccer Club and Mount Nelson Oval.

History
Little is known about the Nuenonne nation, whose territory encompassed Mount Nelson and numerous inner-suburbs of Hobart. The Nuenonne people were profoundly affected by British colonisation starting in 1803, resulting in a substantial decrease in the Aboriginal Tasmanian population. Colonial official and pastor George Augustus Robinson, accompanied by Aboriginal guide Wurati, gained insights into the indigenous languages and naming conventions of the region during his 1830-31 expedition to the island's northeast. Wurati shared with Robinson various names for places, tribes, and people on the expedition, including the name "kriwalayti" from the Bruny Island language. Robinson documented this term in his manuscripts, associating it with name of Mount Nelson, which can be observed from Bruny Island. The latter part of "kriwalayti" signifies a variation of a southeastern word denoting 'hill', 'mountain', or 'peak', which echoes in other local toponyms. Notably, both the Nuenonne and Muwinina tribes of the Hobart and Sandy Bay areas belonged to the broader southeastern language group, threading cultural and linguistic ties of the region. "kriwalayti" has since been adopted by contemporary Palawa peoples in the reconstructed palawa kani language. During HMS Bounty's visit to the island in 1792, then known as Van Diemens Land, en route to Tahiti, the mountain was dubbed "Nelson's Hill" by Captain William Bligh, in tribute to the ship's esteemed botanist, David Nelson. Tragically, Nelson, a steadfast member of Bligh's crew during the infamous mutiny, met his demise in Kupang, Timor, in 1789, succumbing to an inflammatory fever following the grueling open-boat voyage post-mutiny.

Modern Developments
Significant suburban development in Mount Nelson commenced post-1945, driven by government initiatives to settle immigrants seeking refuge from the devastation wrought by World War II in Europe. This period witnessed the transformation of Mount Nelson into a thriving residential area. Additionally, the former firing range situated north of the bends on Nelson Road underwent conversion into university farmland for the University of Tasmania.

A Rialannah Post Office opened on 1 April 1948 and was renamed Mount Nelson in 1956. It closed in 1971.

In 1967 a large number of houses were destroyed by the Black Tuesday Bushfires.

Signal Station
Governor Lachlan Macquarie's visit to Van Diemen's Land in 1811 led to the establishment of a signal post atop Mount Nelson. This post served to announce the arrival of ships entering the estuary. The semaphore technology at the signal station became obsolete with the introduction of Tasmania's inaugural telephone line in 1880, linking the Mount Nelson signal station to the Hobart telegraph office. Adjacent to the Signal Station stands the Signal Station Brasserie, housed in the original head signalman’s residence built in 1897.

Historically, signaling operations evolved from flag-based systems to semaphores, with a notable upgrade in 1838 to a towering six-armed semaphore capable of transmitting over 900,000 distinct signals. This network facilitated rapid communication between the penal settlement at Port Arthur and Hobart. Signalmen, often accompanied by their families, endured varying weather conditions, working in shifts from 6 am to 9 pm.

In 1880, Tasmania's first telephone line replaced the semaphore, marking the advent of modern telecommunications. Despite technological advancements, the station continued to play a crucial role, hosting a base station for ship-to-shore radio-telephone communication in 1958. However, operations ceased in 1969, ending 158 years of communication history.

Since 1979, management of the Mount Nelson site has been under the purview of the Parks and Wildlife Service. Today, the station maintains ties to its heritage, flying the Tasmanian State flag daily and utilising International maritime signal flags to welcome ships and mark special occasions.

Geography
Geographically, Mount Nelson is positioned with its short northern boundary abutting the suburb area of Sandy Bay and extending through the University of Tasmania to Churchill Avenue. The northeast boundary follows Lambert Rivulet, traversing through the Skyline and Mount Nelson Signal Station Reserve, while the southern border adjoins the Kingborough Council. Internally, the suburb of Mount Nelson is bordered by the areas of Fern Tree, Dynnyrne, Ridgeway, and Tolmans Hill, as well as the Southern Outlet. This unique geographic placement offers residents a harmonious blend of urban convenience and natural beauty.

The suburb of Mount Nelson spans approximately 5.9 square kilometres, encompassing 14 parklands covering nearly 16.3% of its total area. Constructed in 1908 to provide better access to the Mount Nelson signal station, the main road in Mount Nelson is Nelson Road, which extends up the mountain from the Wrest Point Hotel Casino into the Sandy Bay suburb.

Truganini Conservation Area
Named after Nuennonne woman Truganini, the Truganini Conservation Area protects native bushland on Mount Nelson's southeast flank. A 90-minute bushwalk (4.2 km) from the Signal Station to Sandy Bay offers glimpses of diverse vegetation, a Truganini Memorial, and opportunities to spot wildflowers and native birds, including the endangered swift parrot.

Wildlife
Mount Nelson plays a vital role in the conservation of wildlife, particularly the endangered Swift parrot. Recognized as one of the breeding grounds for this species, Mount Nelson supports efforts to protect and preserve the habitat of these magnificent birds. With an estimated population of around 1000 breeding pairs, conservation initiatives aim to ensure the survival and sustainability of the Swift parrot population in the region.

Demographics
In 2021, the predominant age group in Mount Nelson is 40 years with 2.5 residents per household.

Facilities
Mount Nelson is served by the Mount Nelson Medical Centre, a general store, and pharmacy. The Mount Nelson Fire Station is situated at 40 Olinda Grove.

Educational facilities
Mount Nelson boasts several educational institutions, including Hobart College, one of the city's four public secondary colleges. Notably, Queen Mary of Denmark, wife of Frederik X, is an alumna of Hobart College. Furthermore, Mount Nelson is home to Mount Nelson Primary School, catering to approximately 200 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The school serves as a feeder to Taroona High School and encompasses students from Mount Nelson and Tolmans Hill.

Access
Mount Nelson is accessible via Proctors Road off the Southern Outlet and Nelson Road commencing in Sandy Bay. The suburb is serviced by Metro Tasmania bus routes 457, 458, X58 and school routes direct to Hobart College 412, 413, 415 and 417.