The cove was the initial landing site of what is now the city of Hobart. It was founded on 21 February 1804 by Lieutenant GovernorDavid Collins, who travelled to the shore via what was then a rocky island named Hunter Island. The connection to the shore was developed and is now known as Hunter Street. The island now has a building directly above it.
Although the first European settlement in the state was further up the river at Risdon Cove by John Bowen a year earlier, that settlement was abandoned and relocated to join the Sullivans Cove settlers.
Collins named Sullivans Cove after John Sullivan, Permanent Under Secretary to the Colonies.
1954 map of Sullivans Cove
By 1916, several piers had been constructed: from north to south:[1]
Sullivans Cove holds large historical and sentimental value for the city. The cove area itself is now known as Macquarie Wharf and serves as the main port for the city. Many of the original buildings along the esplanade are still standing.
A serviced apartment building, ZeroDavey, drew some criticism for its blue Davey Street facade, though it has some sandstone to blend in with the Hunter Street warehouses.
Panorama of Mawson Place
During 2004 there has also been discussions about a proposal for a tourist tram from Sullivans Cove to the CBD, and possibly to North Hobart.
An international design competition was held for the Hobart waterfront in 2006. It attracted 280 entries from over 50 countries. Three winners were announced on January 26, 2007,[13] including entries by Jeppe Aagaard Andersen, Preston Lane Architects and Tony Caro Architecture.[14] Many proposals indicated a return to the Hobart Rivulet as a canal on its original alignment at Constitution Dock, with a civic and reconciliation space linking the Hobart City Hall Axis.[15] The designs were not for construction.[16]
With the change in the cove's primary activity from a freight port to tourism and recreational uses, many of the sheds in the area have been either re-purposed or replaced – notably, all buildings keep the former gabled roof architecture.[17] These buildings include:
Elizabeth Street Pier – restaurants, bar and function space
Macquarie Wharf Shed No. 1 – to be replaced in 2015 with a luxury hotel (under construction)[20]
Macquarie Wharf Shed No. 2 – redeveloped in 2013 as MAC02 cruise ship terminal[21]
Brooke Street Pier – replaced in 2014–2015 with a ferry terminal/tourism transport hub
Additional development in the immediate area include a $100m redevelopment of Parliament Square, behind Parliament House.[22] In 2015, a vacant lot and the Mawson's Huts replica were proposed to be redeveloped into a Civic Square.[23]
