Bellerive is a suburb of the City of Clarence, on the eastern shores of the Derwent Estuary. It stretches from Kangaroo Bay where it borders Rosny Park, around the curved shoreline of Bellerive Esplanade to Kangaroo Bluff, then down to Bellerive Beach and east to Second Bluff, where Bellerive borders Howrah. To the north, Bellerive is bordered by the small foothills of Waverly Flora Park. The area around Bellerive Quay and the boardwalk has a quaint village feel, with many historic homes and buildings- some of which date from the early nineteenth century.
Bellerive was first settled in the 1820s, and at that time known as “Kangaroo Point”, for the large numbers of Kangaroos that would be seen on the shore. Even before this time a ferryman regularly crossed the Derwent, coming ashore in the Bellerive area. Following the first settlers, the area expanded rapidly, with roads to the farming districts of Clarence Plains (Rokeby), Coal River (Richmond), and Hollow Tree (Cambridge) soon developing.
By the 1830s the name was changed to Bellerive (meaning “beautiful riverbank”) and the village had become the hub of eastern shore contact with Hobart, and several boats would cross between Bellerive and Sullivans Cove every day.
