Glenorchy is one of the five city councils that make up the greater Hobart area of Tasmania, with a population of approximately 50,000. The land was originally used for agriculture (particularly orchards) but is now a largely suburban, working class area.
In 1964, Glenorchy was proclaimed a city. Major commercial areas include Moonah, Glenorchy and Claremont. The city has the second largest shopping district in southern Tasmania (the first being in Hobart). The Glenorchy CBD also has three major indoor shopping centres, Northgate Shopping Centre, Glenorchy Central Shopping Centre (Centro), and the smaller Glenorchy Plaza.
The City of Glenorchy spans the area along the Derwent River, from just north of the Queens Domain in the south, to the Bridgewater Bridge and Causeway in the north, and extends west as far as the foothills of Mount Wellington.
As Well as the city having an annual regatta, it also hosts the annual Royal Hobart Show and the Hobart Cup.
There is an outdoor swimming pool, a cinema an Australian Rules football oval, a soccer oval, a bowls club, and a public area called Tolosa park. A major feature of the park is its open-air auditorium, primarily used for musical performances that aren't large enough for the indoor Derwent Entertainment Centre. This venue has provided the city with the oppurtunity to host many local and international functions. Some of the artists that have performed in Glenorchy include Dire Straits, Elton John, and John Farnham. The DEC is also used for expos, trade shows and sporting events.
The city held local council elections in the last half of 2005.
The council takes an active role in the management of the city and has many "bright ideas". The latest one is to deploy wheelie bins for recycling to improve the local environment, and a green waste collection system is propsed so that every household can take an active part in recycling.
Chapi