14 September, 2022

Works progressing on Hobart’s Hanging Garden precinct

Plans for a thriving epicentre for cultural activity in the heart of Nipaluna/Hobart’s CBD have progressed, with town planning and demolition works for Stage 1 of the upcoming In The Hanging Garden precinct underway.

Complementing the precinct’s broader Masterplan vision to turbo-charge the existing site with exciting social activation, the four-year collaborative venture between Riverlee and DarkLab for In The Hanging Garden will see the collision of food, music, community and commerce, resulting in a place of pride for the people of Hobart, and an invitation to the world to discover Tasmania.

Designed to entice people to play and stay in the CBD, In The Hanging Garden’s envisioned three stages of development will encompass nearly an entire city block in the heart of Hobart, amplifying the streetscape with added restaurants, bars, live music and family-friendly venues, with complementing residential and commercial space.

With town planning applications and demolition works now commenced, the future precinct is programmed to include a mixed-use commercial building on the corner site of Bathurst and Watchorn Streets.

The innovative workplace is a joint venture between Riverlee and Quintessential Equity, and is designed by the renowned Museum of New and Old Art (Mona) architects Fender Katsalidis, supported by 6 Degrees, the architects for In The Hanging Garden precinct masterplan.

“Drawing on our deep knowledge of Hobart’s unique culture and community, In The Hanging Garden presents locals and travellers with an empathetically-designed precinct offering that authentically celebrates its vibrant heritage and provides accessible spaces for cultural creation, further propelling the city’s reinvigoration for years to come,” said James Pearce, director at Fender Katsalidis Architecture.

With over 45 per cent of Tasmania’s population residing in Greater Hobart, and with the city’s population set to rapidly expand year-on-year, the innovative precinct will lead the way for premium commercial space, attracting new and supporting existing small business to the area.

“We have a deep understanding of the block, and the site’s long history. The site at 120 Bathurst Street was carefully selected, with the precinct masterplan in mind, as well as the consideration of future staging, including the existing operational Hanging Garden venue,” said David Lee, Riverlee Development Director.

“Through a careful design process, we explored multiple design iterations to ensure the streetscape and local character of Hobart could be protected.”

Laying the foundations and acting as a catalyst for further regenerative works planned in Stages 2 and 3, the success of the planning application will enable the preservation of neighbouring heritage buildings.

This includes The Odeon Theatre, which previously had a demolition permit, as well as other culturally significant buildings including the Tattersalls Hotel, and Wellington House.

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Hanging Garden Hobart