Early one morning, while I waited for a bus at Hobart’s GPO corner, I stood looking at the scenery: a natural landscape of denuded deciduous trees. This provided a rare opportunity (these days I seldom go into the city despite it being only 10 minutes from home) to stand and look at the shape of the architecture of buildings which would otherwise be less visible.

Two main vintages presented themselves; two substantial buildings from the 19^th century and one from the twentieth.

Across the street from the GPO corner, Hobart’s Town Hall takes up most of one city block. Substantially constructed in massive sandstone blocks, this edifice has been in service since 1866. It was designed in the Victorian Italianate style typical of many buildings of that era.

Diagonally opposite where I stood, the small park with general community access is known as Franklin Square. Through the bare trees in the distance at one end of the Square I could see the 1824 Treasury building.

Down the hill and standing one block before the wharf and Derwent river, stands a white building designed in the art deco style. Older locals know it as the ‘Hydro’ building. These days this sturdy but dramatic building houses the offices of the Hobart City Council.

In the coming weeks the buds will form and the trees will leaf up yet again to partly hide these buildings from view.