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The flag of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, as shown on a photo published in
the "Brisbane
Times", 5 April 2012, is horizontally divided white-blue, the white stripe
being slightly narrower than the blue one. The white stripe is charged with a
red lion having blue
tongue and nails, while the blue part is charged with a
yellow star.
The flag is a banner of the municipal arms of Hobart,
supporters and crest excluded, which are presented on the town's official
website as follows:
The Coat of Arms was formally granted to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and
Citizens of the City of Hobart on 1 May 1953. A copy of the Letters Patent
granting the Coat of Arms is displayed in the vestibule of the Town Hall; the
original document is held by the Archives Office of Tasmania.
The Coat of
Arms was designed in 1951 by Hobart architect and alderman, I.G. Anderson, and
replaced an earlier unofficial crest, used by the Corporation since the 1850s.
Alderman Anderson was largely instrumental in encouraging the Council to request
the Arms. The motto 'SIC FORTIS HOBARTIA CREVIT' is featured on both the Coat of
Arms and the earlier crest.
The arms are blazoned and explained as
follows:
Shield.
Azure an Estoile Or on a Chief Argent a Lion passant
Gules. The star is derived from the arms of Lord Hobart, 4th Earl of
Buckinghamshire (1760-1816), Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the
time of colonial settlement (1804), and after whom Hobart is named. The colour
used on the arms of Lord Hobart was, in fact, sable (black), rather than blue.
The red lion is from the Tasmanian flag - and its location at the top of the
shield signifies Hobart's position as the Capital City.
Crest.
On a
Wreath Argent and Azure A three masted sailing Ship (representing the Flying
Childers) in full sail Or, Mantled Azure doubled Or. The helmet is associated
with civic heraldry and is often used for municipal authorities. The ship was a
whaling ship, built in Battery Point in 1846, and signifies the importance of
shipping and whaling to Hobart's industrial and economic development.
Supporters.
On the dexter side an Emu and on the sinister side a Kangaroo
both reguardant and each gorged with a chaplet of Apples leaved all proper. The
Tasmanian Emu (now extinct) and the Forester Kangaroo (endemic to Tasmania) are
references to the Council's unofficial crest, used from the 1850s, and also
provide a connection with the Australian Coat of Arms (granted in 1912). The
animals have collars to deliberately distinguish them from the national coat of
arms; the apples signify the importance of the apple industry to the state -
known commonly for many years as the 'Apple Isle'.
Base. (not described)
The base of the shield is a green island, alluding to Tasmania, and the blue
wavy lines represent the surrounding seas. Growing upon the island are two
examples of native flora, the Richea (or Flowering Grass Tree), which grows on
the slopes of Mount Wellington and the Tasmanian Waratah.
Motto.
Sic
Fortis Hobartia Crevit
The motto, Sic fortis Hobartia crevit, or "Thus in
strength did Hobart grow", was part of the Council's old Common Seal and was
retained when the new Coat of Arms was introduced. It was first used by the Rev.
Robert Knopwood, in his diary at the end of 1804, literally translated by
Knopwood as, "Thus by industry Hobart Town increased." The motto is derived from
another commonly used motto "Sic fortis Erutria crevit" - used in Book Two of
Virgil's 'Georgics' - Etruria was an important area of central Italy inhabited
and governed by the Etruscans. This motto "Sic fortis Erutria crevit" was used
in relation to the Colony of New South Wales from 1790.
http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Council/About_Council/Hobart_Coat_of_Arms
Ivan Sache, 24 April 2012
image located by Ivan Sache, 8 June 2012
Quoting Jane's "Life
on Planet Baby" blog, 20 February 2011:
This venerable Regatta has
been held there every year since 1838 (except for 1967 when the infamous
bushfires ravaged Hobart). Given Tasmania (then the colony of Van Diemen's Land)
was only settled in 1803, 'the Regatta', as the locals call it, has been an
institution from the early days of British settlement. Started by the then
Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin, both as a free exhibition of aquatic
competitions and displays and relaxation for the citizens, it is the oldest
Australian public holiday. A three day event, it is still free. It even lays
claim to being 'the largest aquatic festival in the Southern Hemisphere'. And
how we 'southerners' cherish it (the 'northerners' of this fair island don't get
the holiday - they instead have Recreation Day in November!). There are races
for rowing [...] keelboats [...], power boats, jet skis, dragon boats [...],
outrigger canoes, swimming (including the prestigious 1.6 km Trans-Derwent swim)
and a fishing competition.
The blog features a photo of the flag of the
Royal Hobart Regatta Association, which is white, quartered by a red cross, in
the middle, the association's emblem, in the respective quarters the red letters
"R", "H", "R", and "A".
Source:
http://www.lifeonplanetbaby.com/2011/02/lets-attend-royal-hobart-regatta-2011.html
http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=93871&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=8 - another
photo of the flag
The emblem of the Royal Hobart Regatta Association is
made of the red letters "RHRA" surmounted by a crown, surrounded by two
vertically divided white-red-white pennants crossed per saltire under branches
of oak and of ?, all over a red scroll inscribed "EST. 1838" in black letters.
http://www.royalhobartregatta.com/Program.pdf (no longer available
On the
flag, the crown appears in a different patterns and the scroll is omitted.
Ivan Sache, 8 June 2012