James Sprent's comprehensive survey of Hobart
Town was carried out towards the end of an era
of rapid population increase. The pattern of
occupance and the characteristics of the buildings
recorded by Sprent are examined after first tracing
the physical growth of the town,to the 1840s. The
1847 valuation of Hobart property is represented
cartographically and related to physical and
functional factors. Central area functions are
analysed in detail and characteristics of commerce,
manufacturing and port activity are presented.
The persistence of Sprent's Hobart in the 1960s is
shown by the assessment of townscape
