postcards - candice carlin's hobart

Despite being only a hop, skip and jump away from the mainland, the little southern island of Tassie is a mysterious place to many Australians. Creative lass (and sometime frankie snapper) Candice Carlin has been calling the Apple Isle home for a few years now, so we asked her to give us a local’s eye view of Hobart and its lovely-looking surrounds.



Firstly, please tell us a little bit about the neighbourhood that you live in. I live in the suburb of New Town, which is a 10-minute drive from the Hobart CBD. It was the original city centre, so I’ve been told, probably because down by the water where the city is now was quite rough back in the day due to its convict history and industrial purposes. So New Town is now a suburban residential area, and is full of these really beautiful heritage homes. It is a bit of an architectural mish-mash and testament to times gone by. It is becoming a more popular place to live due to the quiet streets, old brick homes and convenient distance to the city - there’s a nice cycle track that stretches by the water.



What kind of house/apartment do you live in? Is it typical of the architecture in that area? I live in a little one-bedroom terrace on the main road. It is probably one of the older styles of residential buildings, which is discernible from the small windows and simple brick façade .The bedroom is my favourite part, which you access from some steep (and somewhat precarious) stairs that lead up to a cosy light-filled loft on the second floor. Most of the buildings on the main road are typical of this style as they were probably the earliest residential and commercial buildings constructed, and as the suburb stretches back you can see the architecture going through the decades.



What kind of stereotype has Hobart earned, and how is it different to what people expect? I’ve been living in Tasmania for four years now, and after talking to people who have lived here their whole lives (many of whom have left for the mainland and returned), the general consensus is that it is now ‘a totally different place’ to the sleepy seaside city they left behind. I personally think it’s just so visually stunning and still relaxed, despite still having the conveniences of a city, but I suppose I’ve come at a really opportune moment in time, when the place appears to be reinvigorated.



How is Hobart changing? I think Hobart is growing as a living and travel destination due to a number of reasons. In a way, Hobart has always had the appeal, however it’s definitely under the spotlight at the moment. The advent of MONA (The Museum of Old and New Art) has definitely had an impact on the city, creating new events and festivals and generally attracting a lot of people to the state. I think more people are discovering what a hidden gem Hobart is, and as more bars, cafes, shops and events pop up, it’s an exciting place to be, and it’s great to see it all happening.



What album do you think would be the best soundtrack for walking around? Atlas by Real Estate. It’s got the relaxed seaside Hobart vibe happening, but is still upbeat; perfect for a nice long stroll.

If you had a day to take a visitor around your town on a Sunday afternoon, what would you do? First, I would get down to the Farm Gate market in the city, which has mouthwatering lunch options (bagels, Mexican food, homemade pie, doughnuts, local oysters, sushi, to name a few), as well as some great produce, bread and flowers. Then I would take them for a drive up beautiful Mount Wellington, which is an easy 30-40 minute drive from the city to the peak. It’s the nicest place to go to see Hobart, as you really get a ‘birds eye view’. Then probably a trip out to MONA and perhaps some beers at the brewery there!



What is the local creative community like? Are there predominant local crafts? I’ve been at the art school for about six months now and it seems like the mediums are so varied! There are some seriously talented illustrators, painters, zine makers, jewellery designers and many other fine and contemporary art students. I feel like I’ve really only seen the tip of the iceberg to be honest, but some of the work I’ve seen from the outside looks so great and I think the longer I’m here the more great local artists I’ll discover.



Tell us about the spaces and places you have photographed for us. I really enjoy taking pictures of quiet city corners, suburbs and the different architecture that Hobart showcases, so a lot of those are just in little nooks in various places in Hobart. The views are plentiful as it’s a city of many hills. A lot of café-hopping has been captured too, as there is no shortage of delicious food and coffee here. I’ve also snapped a few images of Mount Wellington and short drives out of town, as Hobart has such a close proximity to nature and it’s just a 10-minute drive from the city if you want some leafy breathing space or a beach all to yourself.



How does Hobart change with the seasons? How has this influenced your work? Hobart definitely experiences the four seasons that other places in Australia don’t (definitely one of my favourite things about the state). In this way, a lot of my photographic work is visually navigated by these elements, which are out of my control. I can tell what time of year my photographs were taken in from the direction of the light, the flora that’s blooming and the colours of leaves and sky, and I think it’s a lovely thing to document.

Where is the best place to have a picnic? I love going out to Taroona beach, grabbing some coffee, fresh bread or sandwiches from The Picnic Basket (the cutest cafe!) and sitting by the water. It’s about 15 minutes from the city and one of my favourite places.



Where is the best place to see a gig? Probably the Republic Bar in North Hobart. I saw the Tallest Man on Earth there a couple of years ago and it’s such a small stage and venue, I could have reached out and touched him! It’s pretty easygoing and close to all the good restaurants and bars in North Hobart.

Where is the best place to get a drink? There are many, but I love Preachers on a sunny afternoon. It’s in Battery Point, and it’s pretty much like you’re hanging out at someone’s friend’s house. You can sit inside on one of the couches, venture outside on the astro turf and listen to triple J or if I’ts a cold winters night, sit on their little heated school bus that’s decked out with fairy lights. The beer list is always good and they have delicious food, or warm mulled cider or wine in winter.



Where is the best place to buy a vintage dress? I’d say Antiques to Retro on Bathurst St in the city. There are a lot of great op shops and antiques stores kicking around, but if you’re in the market for a good quality vintage dress and a variety of eras, fabrics and styles to chose from this is your best bet!