About Bellerive

Bellerive, a suburb of the City of Clarence, on the eastern shores of the Derwent Estuary, stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where Bellerive borders Howrah. To the north Bellerive is bordered by the small foothills of Waverly Flora Park.

The area around Bellerive Quay and the boardwalk has a quaint village feel, with many historical homes and buildings in the area, some of which date from the early 19th century. The old Bellerive Post Office, which was built in 1897, now houses both the Sound Preservation Museum and the Genealogical Society of Tasmania. At the point of Kangaroo Bluff is the 19th century British fortress known as Kangaroo Battery (built 1885) which is now a public park.

Originally named Bidassoa Street, Queen Street was re-named in 1897 to honour the jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was the main thoroughfare from the ferry terminal to the beach when day-trippers and holiday-makers flocked to Bellerive from the 1860s until the 1920s.

Bellerive was first settled in the 1820s, and at that time known as Kangaroo Point, for the large numbers Kangaroos that would be seen on the shore. That name is said to have been coined by Lieut. Edward Lord, who first came to the Derwent in February 1804 at the founding of Hobart. Lord was in command of the guard of marines in the ship Ocean, which also carried Lieut-Gov David Collins and Hobart's founding settlers.

The area soon expanded rapidly, with roads to the farming districts of Clarence Plains (Rokeby), Coal River (Richmond) and Hollow Tree (Cambridge) soon developing. By the 1830s the name was changed to Bellerive (meaning "beautiful river bank") and the village had become the hub of eastern shore contact with Hobart, and several boats would cross between Bellerive and Sullivans Cove every day.