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Snow on kunyanyi-Mount Wellington.jpg Photo by OlorinFiresky –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Mount Wellington

Mount Wellington is a mountain in the southeast of Tasmania, Australia. It is within Wellington Park reserve and is the summit of the Wellington Range. The mountain rises to 1,271 meters above sea level and is frequently covered by snow. There is also a sealed narrow road to the summit which is about 22 kilometers from Hobart’s central business district. 

From Hobart, the most distinctive feature of Mount Wellington is the cliff of dolerite columns known as the Organ Pipes. Aside from the view, the foothills of Mount Wellington were formed by a slow geological upsurge. The upper reaches of the mountain were formed more violently.

The aboriginal nation people of the area referred to Mount Wellington. The indigenous people referred to it as Kumanyi. The Palawa, are the surviving descendants of the original indigenous Tasmanians.

1. European History

Abel Tasman was the first recorded European in the area. He did not see the mountain in 1642, as his ship was quite a distance out to sea as he sailed.

Aside from Abel, no other Europeans visited Tasmania until the late eighteenth century. The visitors included Frenchman Marion du Fresne in 1772, James Cook in 1777, William Bligh in 1788 and 1792, and Tobias Furneaux in 1773.

In 1836, Charles Darwin visited Hobart Town and claimed Mount Wellington. He even included his adventure in his book The Voyage of The Beagle.

2.  Growth and Development

Photo by Tom Ackroyd –  

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the mountain was at the peak of popularity. Due to that, many excursion huts were built over the lower slopes of the mountain. However, the huts were all destroyed during the disastrous bushfires of 1967. 

The road to the summit was constructed in the early 1930s as a relief scheme for the unemployed. The road was officially known as Pinnacle Drive. The ‘scar’ most people see today is not actually the road but a line of large rocks with no trees.

3. The Broadcasting Tower

Photo by Thennicke –  

Many broadcasters are at the site of radio and television transmitters. The two main transmission towers are located at its pinnacle and the other is owned by WIN television. It also has a small accommodation area at its base, with a kitchen and workshop area.

The current broadcast tower was erected in 1995 and stands 130m tall, the site is considered one of the most inhospitable broadcasting sites in Australia. It has a large incidence of strong winds which generally derive from the roaring forties.

4. Climate Throughout The Year

Mount Wellington significantly influences Hobart’s weather. In the winter it frequently snows and the mountain is often snowcapped. In spring, summer, and autumn, they are lighter snowfalls. A day at the summit can consist of clear sunny skies, rain, snow, icy winds, and then clear skies again.

The winds have been recorded at a sustained speed of over 157 kilometers per hour and rare gusts of up to 200 kilometers per hour.

5. Mount Wellington Popularity

Photo by arctanx. tk –  

The mountain is known for being directly behind Hobart and is the city’s dominant feature. One of its fun facts is that it was formed during the Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic ages. It is also associated with the Duke of Wellington as it is named after him in honor of his great history.

6. Volcanic History

Photo by JTDocs –  

Mount Wellington formed millions of years ago when layers of rock were pushed upwards. It was influenced by the erosional development of the size and form of the Wellington Range. 

7. Pinnacle Drive

Photo by Thennicke –  

Also known as the C616, is a beautiful drive from South Hobart to the top of Mount Wellington. The road leads through rainforests and then through sub-alpine landscapes and goes all the way to the boulder-strewn summit.

The tour guides suggest wearing something warm even if it’s sunny because the temperature at the top is usually at least 8 degrees lower than in the city. It’s also suggested to wear a layer of your clothes and lots of sunscreens since Mount Wellington offers all four seasons in one day.

8. Park Facilities

However, parking is available only at The Springs, the Pinnacle and also small numbers of vehicles can be allowed in lay-bys at designated points along Pinnacle Road.

In addition, it is important to note that the only road to access the mountain by vehicle is through the summit of Kunanyi Mount Wellington Pinnacle Raod.

Traveling to Mount Wellington during winter requires that people check the city of Hobart weather to be sure of the possible restriction by snow or ice does not happen while visiting.

9.  Bushfires that caused damage

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the locals used the mountain as a day resort. However, that changed with time due to the bushfires in 1967, most of the excursion huts were destroyed.

There were modern huts that were open to the public between the springs, the Pinnacle, and the Chalet which is half the mountain. However, they were vandalized while others were virtually derelict.

 10. The beautiful vegetation

The Eucalypti has grown to a great size. They have formed a noble forest. In the dampest ravines, tree ferns flourish in an extraordinary manner. Some are as high as twenty feet high to the base of the fronds.

Fronds from the most elegant parasols produce a gloomy shade that can only be compared to the night stars

The highlight of the beauty of mount Wellington is the board and flat summit which comprises the huge angular masses of naked greenstone.

What is more amazing is that the day splendid is clear and the tourists enjoy the most extensive view. To the north, the country appears a mass of wooded mountains of about the same height as that on which the mountain stands with an equal tame outline.

To the south is the broken land and water, forming many intricate bays and the clearness right ahead is give an excellent view. Additionally, both the view from the north and south attracts more and more tourists and locals.