Kelly’s Steps

Updated June 11, 2025

## Kelly’s Steps (Battery Point, Hobart): what to know before you go

Kelly’s Steps is a short, historic sandstone stairway linking Salamanca Place on the Hobart waterfront with Kelly Street in Battery Point. Built in 1839–1840 and traditionally credited to James Kelly (1791–1859), the steps were cut into the old cliff line above Sullivans Cove and remain one of the city’s most atmospheric pedestrian shortcuts.

If you like travel details that hide in plain sight—stonework, old street geometry, working-harbor history—this is a quick stop that punches above its weight.

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## Fast facts (so you can decide if it’s worth the detour)

– Location: Between Salamanca Place (via Kelly’s Lane) and Kelly Street, Battery Point
– Built: 1839–1840
– Material: Sandstone blocks (often described as “sandstone”)
– Number of steps: 48
– Named for: James Kelly, Australian mariner/explorer/port official
– What it connects: Battery Point (historic residential area) ↔ Salamanca waterfront precinct

Note on “ratings”: the 4.2 rating you provided is time-sensitive and can change quickly across platforms, so treat it as a snapshot rather than a stable fact.

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## Why Kelly’s Steps matters (beyond “it’s a staircase”)

### It preserves Hobart’s original cliff edge
When the steps were constructed, Battery Point sat above the working wharves of Sullivans Cove. The staircase was cut into the cliff stone to connect homes above with the waterfront below.

### It’s tied to the Salamanca warehouses’ building stone
Accounts commonly note that the Salamanca warehouses were built with stone quarried from the same cliff line—making the steps feel like part of the area’s construction story, not just a route between two places.

### It’s linked to a real person with real maritime history
James Kelly is documented as a mariner, explorer, and port official connected with early Tasmanian seafaring and whaling-era Hobart, and his name persists in several Tasmanian place names—including Kelly’s Steps.

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## What you’re actually looking at on-site

### 1) The stairway itself (48 steps, steep by design)
The steps are frequently described as a narrow, steep flight built from sandstone and cut into the escarpment to create a practical connection from the waterfront up to Battery Point.

### 2) Kelly’s Lane at the base
At the bottom, Kelly’s Lane funnels you toward Salamanca Place; it’s a useful orientation cue if you’re approaching from the waterfront side.

### 3) The Battery Point street pattern above
At the top you emerge onto Kelly Street, in Battery Point—an area widely promoted for historic streetscapes and walking routes that include the Steps as a key connector.

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## How to visit (practical routing that saves time)

### Best approach if you’re already on the waterfront
– Start on Salamanca Place, locate Kelly’s Lane, and climb up to Battery Point.
This works well if you’re doing Salamanca first and want to transition into Battery Point without a long road climb.

### Best approach if you’re coming from Battery Point
– Walk to Kelly Street and descend to Salamanca Place.
This is the “drop down to the waterfront” option that keeps your legs fresher for longer loops around the harbor.

### Pair it with a self-guided arts/heritage loop
The Salamanca Arts Centre references the steps as part of the precinct boundaries for its self-guided area (top of the steps around 1–3 Kelly St). That’s a solid hint that this is a legitimate connector, not a random backway. Arts Centre

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## Accessibility and inclusivity notes (read this before you bring someone)

Kelly’s Steps is a stairway—steep, stone, and inherently not step-free. If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, has limited mobility, balance issues, or is pushing a stroller, you’ll want to plan an alternative route via streets rather than the steps. (This isn’t a value judgment—just the physical reality of historic stone stairs.)

If you’re traveling with:
– Kids: hold hands on the steeper sections; the narrowness can compress foot traffic.
– Older travelers: consider descending rather than climbing, depending on knees and confidence.
– Anyone with low vision: stone steps can have visual blending; slower pace helps.

(These are general safety considerations; I’m not asserting specific hazards beyond “historic stone stairs.”)

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## Photography: what makes it “work” in a photo

You’re dealing with a tight, vertical corridor of stone. The most reliable compositions:
– From the base looking up: emphasizes the climb, texture of sandstone, and the sense of passage between precincts.
– From the top looking down: gives you leading lines toward the waterfront.
– Detail shots: focus on stone edges and wear patterns; they communicate age better than wide shots.

Because it’s a public thoroughfare in a popular precinct, be mindful about photographing people—wait for clear moments or frame to avoid identifiable faces where possible.

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## Nearby stops worth combining (so this isn’t a standalone “staircase mission”)

### Salamanca Place
Kelly’s Steps directly connects to Salamanca Place, a core waterfront precinct and common starting point for local walking itineraries.

### Battery Point walking routes
Battery Point is frequently presented as a historic walking area, and Kelly’s Steps is often included as a key waypoint/connector on those walks.

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## What might be outdated (and what’s stable)

Likely to change:
– Star ratings and review snippets (platform-dependent, changes over time).

Stable:
– The steps’ purpose and connection points, the commonly cited construction timeframe (1839–1840), material description, and the 48-step count are all repeatedly documented in reference-style sources.

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## Bottom line

Kelly’s Steps is a 48-step, 1839–1840 sandstone connector between two of Hobart’s most walked areas—Salamanca Place and Battery Point—with a clear historical tie to James Kelly and the working-harbor era of Sullivans Cove.

If you’re already in Salamanca or Battery Point, it’s not “another attraction to add”—it’s a smarter way to move through the city while seeing a piece of Hobart’s original terrain and built history.

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