Wooden boats and visitors set sail for the City of Hobart

Published on 09 February 2023

The City of Hobart’s endless summer of events continues, with the return of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

The city provides $56,473 to the festival through cash and in-kind support – but as the last pre-Covid economic impact figures in 2019 show, this is money well spent.

The event attracted 120,000 visits in 2019, with 53 per cent of all attendees non-Tasmanian spending on average 15.7 nights in the state.

Of those 15.7 nights, five of those were specifically spent in Hobart for the event.

Of all the interstate visitors attending the festival, 43 per cent came specifically for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the four-day festival continued on with the plethora of events on the capital’s waterfront.

“This summer has seen Hobart return to its glorious best,” Cr Reynolds said.

“We have hosted the Taste of Summer, the Sydney to Hobart and the inaugural Ironman 70.3, just to name a few – and now the return of a fan favourite in the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

“This event connects our maritime past and present, and I’m delighted to see our First Nations history recognised through indigenous watercraft builder Sheldon Thomas whose traditionally designed watercraft will be part of the opening event.”

Hobart Creative City Portfolio Chair John Kelly said such events drive local businesses and the economy.

“The Australian Wooden Boat Festival also brings together history and craftsmanship while bringing colour, movement and life to the River Derwent and the Hobart waterfront,” Cr Kelly said. “It is a terrific festival and I urge as many Hobart residents to attend as possible.”

AWBF General Manager Paul Stephanus said the support of the City of Hobart was vital to the festival’s success.

"The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is such an important part of Tasmania and Australia's culture, heritage and community,” Mr Stephanus.

“We are so lucky to have the loyal support of City of Hobart, as Major Partners to present this amazing event."

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival runs from February 10 to 13 on the Hobart waterfront.