A former stockbroker has been jailed for seven years for attacking his wife with an axe in a busy shopping centre in front of their two children.

Last month a jury found Tasmanian man William Henry Richardson guilty of grievous bodily harm, but not guilty of attempted murder.

Richardson attacked his wife with an axe at Shoreline Plaza in Howrah, Hobart in March last year, ABC News reported.

Richardson attacked his wife with an axe at Shoreline Plaza in Howrah, Hobart in March last year (Richardson is pictured leaving court on Wednesday)

On the day of the attack, Richardson had run into his family at the shopping centre by chance.

He then took his shopping outside to his car, before coming back to purchase an axe from a store inside the centre.

He used the axe to attack his wife as their children looked on. Richardson struck his wife five times in the head and body.

The court heard evidence Richardson's wife needed ongoing psychological treatment and feared for her family's safety, Justice Stephen Estcourt said.

The act was 'aggressively committed' and the 'extent of ongoing remorse was not evident,' Justice Estcourt said on Wednesday.

Richardson will serve at least four-and-a-half years in prison before being eligible for parole.