Princes Wharf, Hobart

Princes Wharf is a wharf in the historic port area of Sullivans Cove in Hobart, Tasmania in Australia. The wharf area includes Princes Wharf No 1 Shed (known as PW1) that is a multi-purpose community events centre, and has been home to the Taste of Tasmania Festival. The wharf is also the location of the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

History
The first wharf in Hobart was established in 1810 at Hunter Street. Traders at the time were not content with the location of the wharf: "It was a bit shallow and was exposed to some of the winds coming up the Derwent". A new wharf was built in the 1830s adjacent to Salamanca Place. Further development work began in 1890 to accommodate up to five vessels. A little ‘boat harbour’ was formed at the end of the wharf near the landing stage between it and Castray Esplanade known as Princes Steps. This is where the Duke of Edinburgh landed when he visited the port in 1868. By 1903, the new wharf was renamed Princes Wharf.

World War 1 interrupted further development of the port area. By 1920 consideration had to be given to the replacement of the older piers as they were coming to the end of their useful lives.

Redevelopment 1935–1939
A complete rebuild of the wharf took place between 1936 and 1939 to form the current structure. In 1935, the Hobart Marine Board agreed to an investigation of the condition of Princes Wharf. Mr. Herman K Hutchinson was the engineer to oversee the reconstruction of Princes Wharf. After much discussion and research, Mr. Hutchinson recommended the Princes Wharf be rebuilt in concrete. This was a courageous and farsighted decision at the time ‘concrete was not a well understood readily accepted material for wharf construction in Australia.’ At a conference in Melbourne in 1928, Professor Chapman discussed the increasing importance of concrete in the building trade. The strength of the concrete depended not only upon the proportions of the mix of cement, sand, stone and water but also upon the temperature and its age. In Tasmania, Goliath Cement at Railton used a quality limestone lode which seems to be the key to the quality of the cement produced.

In 1939, Princes Wharf was put to tender to build a replacement wharf and a shed measuring 450 ft by 90 ft. The tender was won by Claude Cooper and Sons, Builders and contractors. Even though Claude Cooper was not the lowest cost tender, he won the contract because he would build it in four months less time than the other tenderers. Cooper knew his tender would be accepted as he could build the wharf and shed between fruit seasons and not interrupt the shipping of fruit to parts of Australia and overseas.

In the Hobart Mercury in 1941, the Marine Board stated that they doubted there was a better shed in Australia.

No 1 Shed
In 2003, apart from its use as the venue for the Taste of Tasmania festival, the No 1 Shed was being primarily used as a car park. Later that year, the State Government, the owner of the Princes Wharf No. 1 and No. 2, was considering selling the site to private developers as part of a Hobart waterfront development project. However, there were concerns about future access to the site, and the continuation of the Taste of Tasmania festival. Some Hobart City Council members suggested that the council should purchase Princes Wharf No 1 for use as a conference venue.

In 2007, there was criticism of condition of the building, questioning its continued suitability as the venue for Taste of Tasmania festival. The concerns included the presence of asbestos in the roof. In late 2009, the State Government committed to a major redevelopment, including the removal of asbestos in the roof, and the installation of insulation and solar panels. The design was intended to provide a multi-purpose community events centre that could be used for exhibitions, festivals, conferences, arts events and concerts. The construction work commenced in 2010 and was planned in two stages, to work around the Taste Tasmania festival, and the annual music and arts festival Mona Foma.

The venue became branded as PW1. In 2016, a three year venue management contract was awarded to TM Management Group, against a background of significant operating losses incurred by the State Government. At the time, the venue was described as one of the state’s top event venues.

No 2 Shed
Princes Wharf Shed No. 2 was demolished in 2012 and the site redeveloped for the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. A new 69,000m² building was completed in 2013, to co-locate IMAS, Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC), and the Tasmanian Partnership for Advanced Computing (TPAC) staff and students. Princes Wharf has been a base for the operations of Antarctic vessels.