Salamanca is a neighbourhood of Hobart, the capital city of the state of Tasmania, located on the shores of Sullivan's Bay. It is home to a street of sandstone buildings built in the 1830s. They used to house the port's warehouses Hobart, where grain, wool, whale oil and goods from around the world were stored. Today, the buildings house restaurants, galleries, gift shops and office space. The area was named after the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812.
Every Saturday, the neighbourhood is home to the famous Salamanca Market, a popular place for Hobart residents and visitors to buy fruit and vegetables, handicrafts, antiques and more. After the sun goes down, visitors to the market move on to the many bars and other drinking establishments in Salamanca and the surrounding shipyards.
In the mid-1990s, the neighbourhood was transformed into the cosy Plaza Salamanca. Surrounded by shops, cafes and restaurants, the square's central fountain and its lawns are a tranquil place where children play and couples in love relax. Salamanca Square is adjoined by many streets and other squares built during the whaling boom of the early and mid-19th century. From here you can access Hobart's historic centre, the Battery Point area.
In 1988, Salamanca erected a memorial to Abel Tasman, the Dutch Dutch navigator and discoverer of Tasmania. The memorial consists of a fountain unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen of Holland by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and a stone sculpture of the great traveller.
