Hinsby Beach

Hinsby Beach is a beach along the River Derwent in the Hobart suburb of Taroona, Australia. The south facing beach looks directly out to Storm Bay and the Tasman Sea, with views of the Derwent estuary, the Alum Cliffs, Taroona Shot Tower, the City of Clarence on the eastern shore and Opossum Bay, South Arm. Hinsby Beach is situated between the Alum Cliffs and Taroona Beach.^[2] A naturally secluded section of the beach, beyond the rocky south-western outcrop is a zoned naturist beach.^[3]

Hinsby Beach
Beach
Hinsby Beach
Coordinates: 42°57′12.86″S 147°20′46.17″E
Location	Taroona, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Offshore water bodies	River Derwent
Dimensions
• Length	250 metres (820 ft)[1]
Hazard rating	3/10[1]
Access	Jenkins Street, Hinsby Road, Taroona Foreshore Track

History

Hinsby Beach has historically been a popular staple of local activity, used for exercise, beach combing, kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, bodyboarding and swimming. Prior to the British colonisation of Tasmania, the land had been occupied for possibly as long as 35,000 years^[4] by the semi-nomadic Mouheneener people, a sub-group of the Nuennone, or "South-East tribe".^[5] Mouheneener shell middens can be found scattered all along Taroona's foreshores.^[6]

Extreme weather hit the beach in 2018, causing rough seas to wash salmon farming equipment ashore and the escape of 120,000 atlantic salmon.^[7][8]

In 2021, Hinsby Beach was utilised for MONA FOMA celebrations with an installation called Hobart Digs, in which south sea pearls encased in handcrafted boxes by German artist Michael Sailstorfer were buried in the sand and discovered by participants.^[9]

Environment

The steep and narrow 250-metre (820 ft) beach has waves averaging .5 metres (1 ft 8 in) swells and is bookended by a 50-metre (160 ft) collection of boulder rocks at Taroona Beach and the Alum Cliffs, which emerge from sea level to heights between 50–100 metres (160–330 ft) to create a dramatic coastline, stretching for 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to Tyndall Beach, Kingston Beach.^[1] The beach can be viewed from beachside homes along Hinsby Road. Hinsby Beach performs well for water quality within the Derwent estuary for swimming.^[10][11]

Access

Hinsby Beach is accessible from the Hobart City Centre via the Channel Highway. It is a two hour walk from the CBD, or a 30 minute metro bus ride. There is parking at nearby Jenkins Street, Hinsby Road, Niree Parade and at Taroona Park. The beach can be accessed on foot via the Taroona Foreshore Track.^[12]

Panorama of Hinsby Beach at Taroona

See also

• List of social nudity places in Oceania

References

1. "Hinsby Beach, Taroona, Hobart, Tasmania". beachsafe.org.au. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
2. Hepper, John; Hobart Metropolitan Councils' Association, (issuing body.) (1990), Down by the Derwent : 21 foreshore parks to enjoy, Hobart Metropolitan Councils Association, retrieved 16 July 2022
3. "Taroona News". Taroona Community Association. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
4. "History of Tasmania". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
5. Horton, David, ed. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press. (See: Vol. 2, pp.1008–10 [with map]; individual tribal entries; and the 'Further reading' section on pp.1245–72).
6. "Taroona - About". taroona.tas.au. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
7. Beniuk, David (12 May 2018). "Salmon farm debris washed up Hobart beaches". The Mercury. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
8. Compton, Leon (12 September 2018). "Huon Aquaculture confirms 120,000 salmon escaped in May storms, amid calls for more industry 'transparency'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
9. Wilson, Amber (23 January 2021). "Treasure hunters unearth precious pearls in Mona Foma's arty beach dig". The Mercury. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
10. Baker, Emily (22 January 2019). "Blackmans Bay, Nutgrove Beach worst for water quality within Derwent". The Mercury. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
11. Shannon, Lucy (23 April 2015). "River Derwent: Heavy metal contamination decreases, effluent increases, report finds". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
12. "Taroona - About". alltrails.com. Retrieved 9 July 2022.