Mount Direction
{{short description|Mountain near Hobart, Tasmania}}
{{For|the locality and small rural community in the local government area of Launceston and George Town|Mount Direction, Tasmania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Direction
| photo = Mount_Direction_Hobart_20171120-076.jpg
| photo_caption = Mount Direction as seen from the surrounding area
| elevation_m = 418
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
| range = Meehan Range
| listing =
| location = Tasmania, Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|-42.796233|147.310611|type:mountain_region:AU-TAS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref=
| map =
| geology = Dolerite
| type = Jurassic
| easiest_route = Bushwalk
}}
Mount Direction is a prominent mountain located within Greater Hobart, situated on the city's eastern shore. Part of the Meehan Range, it rises to an elevation of {{convert|418|m|ft|0}} and is situated between the Clarence and Brighton Council local government areas.{{cite web | title=Mount Direction | website=bonzle.com | url=http://bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=28948&cmd=sp | access-date=2025-01-20}} Its distinct curved shape makes it a visually striking feature of the landscape and one of the most prominent natural landmarks on the eastern shore of the River Derwent.
== Geography ==
Mount Direction is approximately {{convert|16|km|mi|1}} northeast of Hobart’s central business district. From its summit, the mountain offers panoramic views of the Derwent estuary, surrounding waterways, and the Greater Hobart area. Its geology is dominated by dolerite, an igneous rock common to Tasmania, formed through ancient glacial and tectonic activity.
== History ==
Mount Direction has significant cultural and historical importance. It was part of the traditional lands of the Moomairremener people, a clan of the Paredarerme of the Tasmanian Aboriginal (Palawa) people. The mountain and its surrounding areas were integral to their way of life, providing resources and holding spiritual significance. The slopes of the mountain, overlooking the River Derwent, were used for hunting, gathering, and other daily activities.
In 1794, Lieutenant John Hayes of the East India Company named Mount Direction during his exploration of the River Derwent. Hayes recognised the mountain's prominence as a navigational landmark.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10288007 |title=Mount Direction |newspaper=The Mercury |volume=XCVIII |issue=13,476 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=10 June 1913 |accessdate=20 January 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Four years later, in 1798, George Bass climbed Mount Direction during his circumnavigation of Tasmania with Matthew Flinders. This marked the first recorded European ascent of the mountain. Bass also became the first European to climb nearby kunanyi / Mount Wellington.
In 1803, Lieutenant John Bowen established Tasmania’s first European settlement at Risdon Cove, located on the southern slopes of Mount Direction. This site was also the location of the first recorded hostile conflict between the Tasmanian Aboriginal people and British settlers. This tragic event marked the beginning of a long and devastating period of displacement and violence for the Moomairremener people and other Indigenous communities in Tasmania.
== Art and cultural depictions ==
Mount Direction’s profile has been the subject of numerous artistic works:
- Joseph Lycett, in his early colonial landscapes of the River Derwent.{{Citation | author1=Lycett, Joseph | title=Mount Direction, near Hobart Town, Van Dieman's [i.e. Diemen's] Land | publication-date=1820 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/255538636 | access-date=21 January 2025}}
- John Skinner Prout, whose works are held in collections such as the National Gallery of Victoria.{{cite web |url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/28581/ |title=John Skinner Prout, Mount Direction |website=National Gallery of Victoria |access-date=20 January 2025}}
- Edith Holmes, in her painting Mount Direction, Tasmania (1948).{{cite web |url=https://www.deutscherandhackett.com/auction/lot/mount-direction-tasmania-1948 |title=Mount Direction, Tasmania by Edith Holmes |website=Deutscher and Hackett |access-date=20 January 2025}}
== Recreation ==
Mount Direction is popular for bushwalking, with the Mount Direction Track offering a well-maintained route to the summit. Managed by the City of Clarence, the trail allows visitors to enjoy scenic views, diverse flora, and the chance to observe local wildlife.{{cite web |url=https://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/facility/mount-direction-track/ |title=Mount Direction Track |website=City of Clarence |access-date=20 January 2025}}
File:Suburban panorama of Rosetta with River Derwent and Mount Direction (cropped).jpg]]
== Flora and fauna ==
The mountain supports a variety of plant species, including eucalyptus forests and heathlands. It is home to local wildlife such as wallabies, possums, and a variety of bird species, including the wedge-tailed eagle.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Tasmanian mountains |state=autocollapse}}
{{Southern Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Direction}}
Category:Brighton Council (Tasmania)