Salamanca is lined with a long row of simple Georgian sandstone warehouses built in the 1830s. These mellow north-facing buildings once stored grain, wool, whale oil, apples and imported goods from around the world. Nowadays, you can wander under the heavy stone arches to find craft and design shops, jewellers, coffee shops, restaurants, the Peacock Theatre, subterranean bookshops, outdoor gear, and fashion boutiques or you can climb the stairs to the Salamanca Arts Centre and artists’ galleries.
Each Saturday there’s the Salamanca Market, where you can buy anything from a handmade wooden toy or a hand-spun, hand-knitted sweater to fresh fruit and vegetables or a 50-year-old china plate. Across the road there are green lawns and park benches shaded by plane trees that twinkle with lights in the evenings.
The funkiest scene in Hobart. Every Friday night from 5.30 to 7.30pm, the Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard rocks to the sounds of Rektango. The band sets every toe tapping as they play gypsy, jazz and swing music. Mulled wine, beer and soft drinks to buy and when the months are cooler you can keep warm around winter braziers.Rektango celebrate their 10th year in December 2010.
Behind Salamanca Place is Salamanca Square. It’s the place to sit and people watch. And it’s a popular place where Hobart families and friends meet up. You can sit by the cooling fountain with a cup of coffee and a muffin and listen to a guitar or a flute player.
Want to particularly explore the artscape of Salamanca? smARTmap will help you list the galleries, craft shops, bookshops and artists in the immediate area.
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