By the late 1820s the Old Wharf, located at the foot of Hunter Street, could no longer could bear the sheer number of ships frequently travelling in and out of the harbour. For this reason, in 1830, the government agreed to undertake the construction of a new wharf to help alleviate the traffic and congestion.

The New Wharf, as it came to be known, quickly became one of the busiest whaling ports globally and as Tasmania’s export trade expanded, the warehouses along the dockside quickly took shape to cater to the increasing demand.

Hundreds of convicts were used to quarry the cliffs behind Salamanca Place, cut the stones, and build the row of sandstone warehouses that we see today along Salamanca Place.