St David's Park

St David's Park
The rotunda in St David's Park
Type	Public park
Location	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Coordinates	42.886°S 147.329°E / -42.886; 147.329
Area	2.3 hectares
Created	Early 20th century
Founder	Hobart City Council
Operated by	City of Hobart
Open	24 hours
Status	Open all year
Paths	Paved, accessible paths
Designation	Heritage-listed
Parking	Nearby street parking available
Public transit access	Bus services along Davey Street
Facilities	Rotunda, memorial walls, benches, historical plaques
Website	Hobart City Council

St David's Park is a heritage-listed park in Hobart, Tasmania. It is bounded by Davey Street, Salamanca Place, and Sandy Bay Road. The park was originally Hobart’s primary burial ground and is the final resting place of many of Tasmania’s early settlers, including the first Lieutenant Governor, David Collins. Today, it serves as a public park with landscaped gardens, memorial walls, and historic monuments.

History

St David's Park was established on the site of Hobart's original burial ground, which dates back to the early 1800s. The cemetery served as a resting place for many of Hobart's prominent early settlers and convicts. Among those buried here is Lieutenant Governor David Collins, who played a key role in the establishment of Tasmania. Other notable individuals interred here include Sir Eardley Wilmot, who served as Lieutenant Governor in the mid-19th century.

Development and Early Use

The cemetery was formally marked in 1804 by Rev. Robert Knopwood, with burials beginning soon after the establishment of Hobart Town. The site is shown on early maps, including one by Surveyor James Meehan in 1811. Over the years, the cemetery fell into neglect, leading to criticism from locals. *The Colonial Magazine* in 1840 described it as "neglected, naked, and unkind," with visitors noting its unkempt appearance and overgrown graves.

Decline and Transformation

By the late 19th century, the cemetery was in significant disrepair, with many graves overgrown or damaged. In 1872, the cemetery was closed to new burials. As its condition worsened, public support grew to transform the site into a public space. In 1920, the St. David's Burial Ground Vesting and Improvement Act was passed, transferring the cemetery to Hobart City Council and permitting the reinterment of remains at Cornelian Bay Cemetery if requested by relatives. Many historically significant headstones were preserved along the park's boundary walls, and the remaining monuments, including Collins' memorial, were consolidated in the park's northeast corner.

Establishment as a Park

The redesign of the former cemetery was led by L. Lipscombe, Superintendent of Reserves, who converted the grounds into a Victorian-style public park with landscaped lawns, tree-lined paths, and a rotunda. St David’s Park was officially opened to the public in 1926. The park connects with the Supreme Court of Tasmania and Salamanca Place, the latter known for its weekend market. Today, St David's Park serves as a historical site and recreational area, preserving the memory of Hobart’s early residents while providing a green space in the city.

Features

• Memorial Walls: St David’s Park contains memorial walls constructed from gravestones and plaques from the original cemetery. These walls commemorate early settlers and convicts and are among the park’s historically significant features.
• The Rotunda: Centrally located, the rotunda is a popular feature, often used for community events and small performances.
• Lion Gate Posts: The park’s entrance is marked by two lion statues sculpted by Richard Patterson around 1884. Originally placed at the entrance of the Bank of Van Diemen's Land building, they were relocated to the park in 1988 after being stored at Port Arthur when the original building was demolished.

Landscape and design

St David’s Park is designed in a classic Victorian garden style, with lawns, flower beds, and a variety of native and exotic trees. The park is enclosed by a historic stone wall and wrought iron gates, creating a tranquil atmosphere amidst the city. It connects with the adjacent Supreme Court of Tasmania and provides direct access to Salamanca Place, an area known for its historic sandstone warehouses and popular weekend market. This connection enhances the park’s accessibility, linking it with key cultural and civic spaces in Hobart.

Community and cultural significance

St David's Park is a well-frequented destination for locals and tourists, with regular cultural events, historical tours, and community gatherings. The park’s preservation of early gravesites and historical architecture reflects Hobart’s recognition of its colonial heritage, and it is frequently included in heritage tours and ceremonies.

St David's Park has inspired various works that reflect its historical and contemplative atmosphere. The poem St. David’s Park, Hobart, by Tasmanian poet Vivian Smith, captures the park's blend of natural beauty and history. The poem highlights the graves, natural features, and quiet corners, reflecting its layered past:

One of the lion gate sculptures at the entrance to the park.

It has a gum-tree
And six plovers
And the lawned loam
Entombs sisters and brothers.

Pallid death-stones, black with dust,
Seedless grass and sapless trees —
What a background for midnight lust,
Or pollen-gathering bees.

The winds of Time have worn stones bare,
Have sanded moss-lipped paths;
But this is the willowed place where
Goldfinches take their baths.

This is the place where Collins rots,
And there’s a stone to a Russian tailor:
Where a public collection provided the tomb
For nine from a derelict whaler...

Mid-Victorians, puritan-cold,
Are now but one with the damp leaf-mould...

It has a gum-tree
And six plovers
And the weeping willow
Shades many lovers.

— Vivian Smith

Smith’s poem emphasises the park’s dual role as a serene public space and a historical site. Through evocative imagery, he captures the interaction between nature, history, and human presence in St David’s Park.

Recent Developments

In recent years, upgrades to the park have focused on accessibility and facilities. Improvements have included the installation of lighting, accessible pathways, and new informational plaques detailing the history of individuals commemorated in the park. The Hobart City Council continues to maintain the park’s heritage elements, ensuring its legacy remains accessible to future generations.

The memorial walls at St David's Park

Further reading

• Hookey, M. (Mabel) (1920), The romance of old St. David's, W. E. Fuller & J. Boa, retrieved 11 November 2024
• St. David's Cemetery (1922), Tombstones in St. David's cemetery / Tombstones in St. David's cemetery, retrieved 11 November 2024
• Streat, Ben; Carney, Martin; Archaeological Management & Consulting Group, (issuing body); Hobart (Tas.). Council, (sponsoring body) (2010), St David's Park, Hobart, Tasmania : archaeological monitoring final report, Archaeological Management & Consulting Group, retrieved 11 November 2024