Development of Hobart - background notes part 2

The book, Old Hobart Town and environs 1802-1855 by Carolyn R Stone and Pamela Tyson (1978) provides a history of the colony using documents, maps and illustrations from the period. Included below are some excerpts from the records.
Initially an attempt was made to establish a settlement at Risdon Creek but it was not considered suitable:

 Historical Records of Australia (HRA) series III vol 1; David Collins to Governor King, 29 Feb 1804
.... I forthwith commenced, and had the satisfaction of finding what I sought for in a very fine Cove on the West side of the River, about Five Miles from Risdon Creek.
In the center of this Cove ... is a small Island, connected with the Main Land at Low Water, admirably adapted for the landing and reception of Stores and Provisions. Round this Island is a Channel for a Boat, at the Head of which is a Run of clear fresh Water, proceeding from a distance inland, and having its source in a Rock in the Vicinity of the Table Mountain, named in the French Chart ..."Le Plateau." The ground on each side the Run is of a gradual ascent, and upon the next Cove I have formed my Camp. The Ocean and Lady Nelson are lying within half a cable's length of the Shore, in about Nine fathoms Water.
The Soil, to one used to the Sand of Port Phillip, appears in a very advantageous Point of view, but is certainly the same as that about Risdon Creek.
The Timber and Stone are in sufficient Quantity and Quality to answer all my Purposes; and I shall immediately set about the necessary work of getting my People under Cover, and preparing Ground for the reception of Seed.(page 36)

So began the founding of Hobart Town.

James West, The History of Tasmania (1852)
... All were not so well lodged; yet such houses are soon reared. Posts, joined by wall plates, fixed in the ground; woven with wattle rods, plastered with mingled clay, sand and wiry short grass, and whitened; a grass thatched roof; a chimney of turf piled on stone; a door and a window; the cottage is finished. (page 42)

George William Evans, A geographical, historical and topographical description of Van Diemen's Land (1822)
On his return from his late tour of inspection, in 1821, through the settlements of Van Diemen's Land, Major-General Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales and its dependencies, under the head of the civil department, promulgated an official document, which commences by a very flattering account of the growing prosperity of the seat of government, while it conveys a most favourable idea of the flourishing state of the settlements in general. It was, he observes, with much satisfaction that he beheld the numerous changes and improvements which Hbart Town had undergone since the period of his former visit in 1811. The wretched huts and cottages of which it then consisted were now converted into regular, substantial buildings, and the whole laid out in regular streets, several of the houses being two stories high, spacious, and not deficient in architectual taste. The principal public buildings which had been erected were, a government-house, a handsome church, a commodious military barrack, a strong gaol, a well-constructured hospital, and a roomy barrack for convicts, which was nearly completed. On the stream which pases through the town, four water-mills had been erected for the grinding of corn, and a neat battery constructed on Mulgrave Point, at the entrance of Sullivan's Cove. On Mount Nelson a signal-post and telegraph had been established. A well directed attention had been displayed toward the accommodation of the shipping interests, in the planning of a large substantial pier. or quay, which was then in progress in Sullivan's Cove, for the convenience or vessels trading thither, in the loading and unloading of their cargoes; which work, combined with the natural facilities of the place, will render Sullivan's Cove one of the best and safest anchorages in the world. (page 55)

Charles Jeffreys, Van Diemen's Land (1820)
... The Government House occupies the centre of the main street; and is, if not a superb, a very comfortable dwelling. Mr Birch's house, which is the one above alluded to, stands near the south end of the main street; it is a considerable pile of building, of three stories, with an embattled parapet. (page 58)

Birch's house was located at 151 Collins Street, Hobart Town.

Anon. An account of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land (1830)
Leaving the west end of Macquarrie Street, which nowithstanding its great length, is still making rapid strides onwards, a track continues along the right bank of the Town Rivulet, to the foot of Mount Wellington; passing the Female Orphan School, on the left, a good-looking one-storied house, Mr Hackett's distillery, called Dynnyme, but now the residence of Mr R L Murray, the editor of the Tasmanian newspaper; Mr Hodgson's Tannery, the new Female Penitentiary, and the Saw Mills of Messrs. Mackintosh and De Graves, and Mr Snorkell, beyond which is the Rocky Fall, called The Cascade.
At Mr Hodgson's a great deal of leather, of a very excellent quality, is tanned for the consumption of the town, the bark of the Mimosa or wattle tree being used for the manufacture. (page 92)

Edmund Hodgson married Sarah Birch, the widow of Thomas William Birch.

Charles Medyett Goodridge, Narrative of a Voyage to the South Seas (1832)
Hobart Town was so named by Colonel Collins, the first Lieutenant Governor, in compliment to Lord Hobart, at that time Secretary of State for the Colonies. Collins-street, named after Colonel Collins, was the first street that was begun to be built. It did not run exactly in its present direction, forming an angle with its present line. ... Governor Macquarie afterwards named Macquarie-street after himself, and Elizabeth-street, and Campbell-street, after the maiden name of Mrs Macquarie, daughter of General Campbell. He also named Argyle-street, in memory of his native country of that name in Scotland. He named Murray-street after Captain Murray, of the 73rd. Regiment, and Harrington-street, after the Earl of Harrington, who was Colonel of that Regiment. The name of Barrack-street is obvious, as leading to the Military Barracks. Molle-street commemorates the name of Colonel Molle of the 48th and Antill-street beyond, that of Major Antill of the same Regiment, and Brigade Major to Governor Macquarie. Davey-street was named in memory of the late Colonel Davey, Lieutenant-Governor; Liverpool-street, after the late Earl of Liverpool; Bathurst-street, after the Earl of Bathurst, at that time Secretary for the Colonies; Melville-street, after Lord Melville; Brisbane-street, after Governor Brisbane; St Patrick-street was so named at the request of the Rev P Conolly, the Roman Catholic Chapel being situated in it; Warwick-street was named by Mr Evans, late Surveyor General, now resident in England, in memory of Warwick Castle, in which that gentleman first saw the light. (page 77)

Starting at page 99 there is a section on Conditions on the Location of Building Allotments in the Towns and Suburbs published in The Hobart Town Almanack for 1830. Need to look at these propery when time permits.