Hobbs qualified MB BS Adelaide in 1922. After qualification he held a number of posts at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. After gaining his Fellowship in 1928 and returning to Adelaide he was honorary assistant pathologist from 1929 to 1933, honorary clinical assistant in the surgical section from 1931 to 1933, honorary assistant surgeon from 1933 to 1946 and honorary surgeon from 1946 to 1956; he became honorary consultant surgeon thereafter. He was also demonstrator in anatomy at Adelaide University from 1930 to 1935 and tutor in surgery from 1933 to 1946. He was lecturer in operative surgery and surgical anatomy from 1946 to 1948 and lecturer in surgery from 1948 to 1954. He was visiting surgical specialist to the Repatriation Department from 1946 to 1963 and Carnegie Overseas Travelling Fellow in 1947. In the second world war he was a major in the Australian Army Medical Corps from 1940 to 1946 and surgeon to the 2/4 Australian Casualty Clearance Station, Australian Imperial Forces. He served in Malaya, Burma and Thailand and was mentioned in despatches. He died on 4 January 1993.