Positioned high above the hills overlooking Hobart, the Mount Nelson Signal Station provides breathtaking views of Hobart, the River Derwent and, on a clear day, Bruny Island and Storm Bay. Established in 1811, it was the first signal station ever built in Tasmania, with a semaphore that was capable of dealing with 666 code signals. 

In 1836, the station became part of the Tasman Peninsula system, enabling rapid communication between Port Arthur and Hobart. A 20-word message could reach Port Arthur from Hobart in just 15 minutes. Typically, three signal men, along with their families, worked and resided on site, working in shifts of three hours from 6 am to 9 pm.

Today, visitors to the Mount Nelson Signal Station can explore the history of semaphore signalling, station life and early maritime activities in the Hobart region.