HOW TO GET TO THE CAT AND FIDDLE ARCADE
THE Cat and Fiddle Arcade is located in the centre of Hobart’s CBD and in many different ways has been the heart of Hobart shopping for more than 100 years.
The arcade is close to 2 main city carparks, public transport with easy pedestrian access and has full disabled access and facilities.
Note. The official shop opening hours of the Arcade are; Monday-Friday 9am - 5.30pm; Saturday 9am - 5pm; Sunday and Public Holidays 10am - 4pm. Refer to the website www.catandfiddlearcade.com which will indicate the trading hours for each particular day. The Arcade may be open beyond these trading hours (even up to 11pm) but you will be taking a chance.
CAT AND FIDDLE ALLEY
The alley can be traced back to 1817 during the reign of Governor Sorrell. An inn called the Cat & Fiddle did a roaring trade and there were some 20 houses, stables and a fellmonger’s yard.
An early description of the "Alley” – In the past it had echoed the sounds of hard fisted whaling men of a dozen nationalities. It knew gentlemen of leisure and let’s admit it, ladies of pleasure. Its attraction was a low roofed ill lit tavern called the Cat and Fiddle.
The Albion Hotel (the Terminus for Cooley’s Coaches 1825-1835), side entrance was located in the lane way. In 1862 Cat & Fiddle Alley (renamed Elizabeth Lane) became the new address for Charles Davis & Semple General Merchants. Charles Davis Company supported and encouraged sporting teams within the community and its staff. In the 1930’s there were the Charles Davis – Basketball, Cricket and Football Teams, employee’s picnic days and sports carnivals.
HOBART IN FLOOD
1929, 1947, 1960, 2016
Flooding is an ongoing problem along the Hobart Rivulent which is culveted underground through the area of the Cat and Fiddle Arcade. The major floods in the Rivulet occurred in 1929, 1947 and 1960, all causing considerable damge in the area.
The 1960 flood was widespread. Raging flood waters from the uncontrollable Hobart Rivulet swept along the main thoroughfares and into scores of businesses. The centre of the city was in chaos. Much of Charles Davis Ltd.’s floors were covered in silt and many goods were washed away. The call was put out to employees and after three days of hard work the store was ready to reopen on the Tuesday for a flood sale. The flood control measures constructed in the 1960’s have restricted the flow of water in some parts to almost a third of what it used to be. However, in 2016 issues with the constructiuon work on the Myer site led to catastrophic flooding of the whole area including the Cat and Fiddle Arcade.
CAT AND FIDDLE ARCADE STORY
In 1958 Hobart architects, Philp Leighton Floyd & Beattie were engaged to plan a new arcade. Intense negotiation ensued to facilitate amalgamation of the site and long-term agreements had to be settled to provide for openings in common walls to give maximum traffic flow between all the stores which were to surround the arcade. The arcade was opened in July 1962 by the then Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Basil Osborne.
THE CAT AND FIDDLE CLOCK
Modern electronics and an old English melody bring this nursery rhyme to life. Behind the stone façade of the mural wall is the “brain” that gives life to the rhyme, first published in 1765 by an unknown author.
A TUNE BY GLOCKENSPIEL
The melody played by a glockenspiel and vibraphone, was recorded in Melbourne and the musicians had to keep playing it again and again, until they took thirty seconds exactly – the time taken by the animated rhyme, with its cat, fiddle, dog, dish, spoon and cow to run its cycle. The clock strikes the hour and – hey, diddle, diddle – the children stand entranced as the cow jumps over the moon. It happens every day at the Cat & Fiddle Square on the hour from 8 am to 11 pm 7 days a week. In sequence the cat plays his fiddle, the cow jumps over the moon, the little dog laughs and – you all follow the well known rhyme.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
From the time of the opening in 1962 to the present, the Cat and Fiddle Arcade has had a place in the memories of all Tasmanian children and those memories now span generations. In the early years the clock square was a meeting place and was utilised for many exhibitions and demonstrations and community events. Today crowds still gather with their young children to watch the cat and the fiddle as the clock strikes the hour.
Hope you enjoy your visit to this historic landmark which really could only be celebrated through a Virtual Cache.
TO CLAIM THIS CACHE:
From the listed coords, please post a photograph in your log of you and/or your team with the iconic Cat and Fiddle Clock in the background. If you do not wish to be photographed please include something that has your team name on it, eg pathtag, name tag, team name written/typed on paper.
AND Please also send your answer to the following question to the CO.
Question - How many white round columns (on the lower level) "support" the structure around the Cat and Fiddle Clock and food court?
Logs that do not comply with these instructions will be deleted.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.