Anniversary of Hobart’s Tasman Bridge Reconciliation Walk

Date: 23 July 2000

What happened in Hobart

On 23 July 2000, more than 20,000 people took part in a reconciliation walk across Hobart’s Tasman Bridge. The Tasmanian Government’s calendar identifies both the date and the scale of participation, describing it as one of the state’s largest public rallies.

The Hobart walk was part of the wider movement of reconciliation walks held around Australia in 2000. It took place after the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, but it has its own date and place in Tasmania’s public history.

A local expression of a national movement

The walks demonstrated substantial public support for improved relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. Their scale made visible a commitment that extended beyond formal speeches and government processes.

In Tasmania, the Tasman Bridge became the setting for a collective public statement. Remembering the Hobart event prevents the national story from being represented only through photographs and accounts of Sydney.

From participation to responsibility

An anniversary can acknowledge the importance of people showing up while also asking what follows a public expression of support. Reconciliation involves continuing relationships, truth-telling and practical responses to Aboriginal priorities, rather than an achievement completed by a single walk.

For schools and workplaces, look for local recollections and publicly available images, checking the dates and permissions before using them. Ask what participants hoped would change and how those aspirations relate to the work still being done. The date can also prompt learning about Aboriginal organisations, Country and histories in Lutruwita. A meaningful activity need not repeat the original walk; it might involve examining local commitments and listening to community-led accounts of what respectful relationships require today.

Sources and further reading

• Calendar: 23 July, the 2000 reconciliation walk — Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Reconciliation timeline: key moments — Reconciliation Australia

Our related products and resources

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