Since 1838 the Royal Hobart Regatta Association has executed governance and coordination of the iconic 3 day aquatic carnival on the waters of the capital city in Southern Tasmania.
A title given with Royal decree and consent by the Commonwealths head of state.
1838 or more specifically, Saturday December 1st. Hobart Town in a celebration to commemorate its European discovery by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman on November 24, 1642 hosts the first ever ‘Anniversary Regatta’.
In honour of the event Sir John Franklin, the then Governor of Tasmania provided free food, beer and admission for all in attendance whilst insisting the day be celebrated by the wearing of a sprig of silver wattle blossom tied with British, Navy blue ribbon.
In building upon the celebration the preceding Monday was declared a public holiday which now boasts the title for oldest, continuing of its kind within greater Australia. In 1879 the December long weekend was switched for January & February following cancellations in 1853 and 1854.
By 1934 King George V had conferred that the event should be known as the ‘Royal Hobart Regatta’ moving forward.
Originally staged at ‘Pavilion Point’ the Regatta has enjoyed grounds upon the tip of the Macquarie point adjacent the Queens Domain along the Western banks of the Derwent River and later, the Hobart Cenotaph following its unveiling in 1925.
The Regatta has, for a long time enjoyed the support of the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy in turn.
In 2023 the Regatta will celebrate is 185th year.
As an aquatic spectacle the Regatta has always boasted a sea (pun intended) of events for all ages including the 1.6km trans Derwent swim.
Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC.
Tasmania’s 29th Governor, Her Excellency graduated from the University of Tasmania with a combined Arts/Law degree in 1980. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1983. She worked as a solicitor at Simmons Wolfhagen and then as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Solicitor-General of Tasmania. She joined the law firm of Murdoch Clarke, becoming the first female partner in 1993.
Her Excellency retired as a judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia on 31 January 2021 after becoming the first Tasmanian woman to be appointed as a Federal Magistrate, in 2008.
Lord Mayor Councillor Anna Reynolds
Councillor Anna Reynolds was elected Lord Mayor of Hobart in November 2018, the third woman to be elected into the role. First elected as an Alderman to the City of Hobart in 2014, she was Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee during her first term.
Anna began her career establishing a community legal centre in North Queensland, after completing her degree at the Australian National University. She has held senior roles in advocacy, policy development and management.
