The Sub-surface Geology of the Hobart CBD
What do we know, and what do we need to know? (IAEG 60th Anniversary Event)
Dr Tony Webster
This three-hour, guided walk will follow the approximate line of the original 1804 shoreline of Sullivan’s Cove, now the Hobart waterfront, from the Cenotaph to Salamanca. Along the route, Hobart’s geology and its influence on the earliest historical development of Hobart will be discussed, as will the history of some of the landmark pubs. Some of the implications of the geology to future developments may also come up. The tour ends ca. 3:30 at the Customs House Hotel, built in 1864, for a drink and chat.
There has been considerable recent discussion about building tunnels beneath central Hobart to link the Southern Outlet to the Brooker Highway. There have also been recent suggestions made about constructing large underground carparks to accommodate the likely influx of vehicles that will result from moving the university to the central city. All such suggestions would require the excavation of major tunnels and large-scale subterranean chambers in the rock mass below the central business district of Hobart. The surface geological information suggests that the sub-surface geology is likely to be diverse, and structurally complex. But what do we know about the geology beneath the city, and the character of the rock mass? What geological information is available in the public domain? This presentation will discuss what we know, and, perhaps, what we need to know about the geology beneath the Hobart CBD to properly inform any tunnels and large-scale excavations.
This past year marked the 60th Anniversary of the 1964 establishment of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG). As part of the celebrations, AGS Chapters have commemorated this milestone with special events across Australia. In Tasmania, we are celebrating with a unique opportunity to discuss Hobart’s geology and engineering geological constraints on various development projects, led by the author of The Foundation of Australia’s Capital Cities: Geology, Landscape, and Urban Character.
Dr Tony Webster Principal Structural Geologist, GeoDiscovery Group Pty Ltd
Tony is a Tasmanian-based geologist with GeoDiscovery Group Pty Ltd. In 2022, he published his second book, The Foundation of Australia’s Capital Cities: Geology, Landscape and Urban Character, in which is described the geological influences on the early settlement and development of Australia’s state capital cities. His first book described the geological evolution of the Broken Hill lead-zinc-silver deposit in far western NSW.
Registration
This is a free event, but we ask attendees to register as places are limited.
Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.