This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
PRIVATE developer Riverlee and MONA’s DarkLab will bring a $5 million cultural and entertainment district to the Hobart CBD in time for this year’s Dark Mofo festival, as part of their redevelopment of the Odeon Theatre site encompassing nearly an entire city block.
Riverlee acquired the string of sites across 11 transactions over a 14-year period and has been working on the project with DarkLab for two years.
To be known as “In the Hanging Garden”, the Fender Katsalidis-designed first stage of the precinct will open in the first week of June on a 6,834 sqm site at 145-167 Liverpool Street. MONA’s 2019 edition of the Dark Mofo festival will run from 6th to 23rd June.
The Odeon Theatre, built in 1916, will be retained and used within the new precinct as a live music venue, joined by another new live music venue Altar on the ground floor of the former Tattersalls Hotel. The precinct will also include a nightclub called High Altar, on the first floor of the Hotel, an outdoor dining area and beer garden, and 24-hour café.
Riverlee received development approval three years ago to demolish the Odeon, but in following a recommendation from council to explore opportunities to retain the building, formed a partnership with DarkLab.
“We are committed to our vision of transforming this site into a vibrant cultural precinct for the city, but we want the precinct to be authentic, and to truly reflect the essence of Hobart and the community, so our plans for the site are ever-changing,” Riverlee development director, David Lee said.
“In this first stage, we are excited to open up our doors and let the city in; to give the community the opportunity to explore the site, interact with the space, and to create their own culture. This first stage will provide a forum for community feedback, to help guide our future masterplan for the site.”
MONA founder David Walsh, who was closely involved with the design process, is believed to have driven the move to take on feedback from visitors before planning future stages of the project.
Walsh elected to not release a masterplan for the project.
DarkLab director, Leigh Carmichael said these types of projects are essential if Hobart is to assert its reputation as a cultural leader in Australia
“It’s rare to find developers prepared to consider investments that benefit the community as well as the bottom line, so we hope the project is given the support it deserves, as it has the potential to be a game-changer for the CBD,” he said.
Riverlee has also just announced a $190 million commercial tower in Melbourne’s Richmond that will have a net lettable area of more than 17,000sqm, and which will include retail and co-working spaces, and over 1,500 sqm dedicated to terraces and greenery.
Australian Property Journal
