Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart

When he arrived in Hobart, Norwegian Antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen stayed in the Hadley’s Orient Hotel. But Amundsen’s stay in Hobart wasn’t as comfortable as many might imagine.

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen led the first expedition to reach the South Pole in December 1911. But the world didn’t find out about it until March 1912 when Amundsen and his crew arrived in Hobart, Tasmania. At least he got to arrive during the Tasmanian summer…

Roald Amundsen in Hobart, Tasmania

News of the momentous achievement was broadcast by telegraph from Hobart’s general post office, on the corner of Macquarie and Elizabeth Street. It was something of a cloak and dagger operation. Amundsen wanted the Norwegian king to hear about it before the rest of the world. So he made sure his ship and crew were anchored and quarantined further up the Derwent River. This was all a ploy to keep the media away.

Once the news was out, the crew attended a special service at St David’s Cathedral. It was partly to celebrate, and partly to pray for the well-being of the rival (and ill-fated) British party led by Sir Robert Scott. Scott’s sister was present – she was married to the Tasmanian governor.

But despite Amundsen’s celebrity status after the news was out, he wasn’t treated all that well on his arrival in Hobart.

9 Hobart experiences worth your time.
1. Bruny Island day tour. 2. Port Arthur day tour. 3. Tasman Peninsula cruise. 4. Hop-on hop-off bus. 5. Iron Pot Lighthouse cruise. 6. Mt Wellington bus tour. 7. Maria Island cruise. 8. Derwent River sailing adventure. 9. Boronong Wildlife Park and Richmond day tour.

Hadley’s Orient Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania

Roald Amundsen stayed at the convict-built Hadley’s Orient Hotel on Murray Street, which now milks the link for all it can. A series of (admittedly stunning) pictures of Antarctic scenery and wildlife dot the walls.

But poor old Roald didn’t get the best room in the joint back in 1912. He noted in his diary that he was given “a miserable little room” and “treated like a tramp”. In fairness to the hoteliers at the time, he probably looked like one after months of trudging across an inhospitable landscape without little luxuries such as shaving foam and shower gel.

Hadley's Orient Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania, where Roald Amundsen stayed. — Hadley’s Orient Hotel in Hobart was briefly home to Roald Amundsen when he returned from the Antarctic.

These days, the Hadley’s Orient Hotel is one of those love it or hate it affairs. Which camp you fall in depends on whether you think the historic Hobart hotel’s décor and furniture is vintage or dated. Other hotel options in Hobart include the Vibe Hotel Hobart.

Modern day explorers can take a slightly less adventurous ship to Tasmania – the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.