AusLeisure

Two high profile sites in Launceston’s CBD are to be redeveloped into a $90 million creative precinct, bus interchange and undercover arcade.

Part of the Council’s Launceston City Heart Project, a vacant retail building it purchased will become a ground-level arcade and public thoroughfare linking the Brisbane Street Mall to the proposed bus interchange.

The site will be developed by the New Creative Group - comprised of education institute Foundry, design agency For the People and newly-incorporated developer Creative Property Holdings - to turn it into a $90 million mixed-use creative precinct.

With Tasmania’s cultural sector impacted by event cancellations and venue closures, the Launceston-based group recently received $10 million in Federal Government funding under the Building Better Regions Fund.

City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said that a business case has been developed to assess the future of the site, which had determined the site, formerly occupied by the Birchalls bookstore, was unlikely to be redeveloped without public intervention.

Mayor van Zetten stated “we saw a similar situation with the CH Smith building in Charles Street, and the redevelopment of that site has been a great success, particularly given its derelict status for so many decades.

“We now have a model for that kind of project, partnering with other stakeholders to redevelop sites that may otherwise face significant hurdles, and we see a significant opportunity for us to apply a similar model to the Birchalls site.

“There are a number of potential uses for this site above the ground floor including a restaurant, commercial office space - of which there is a known shortage in Launceston - or it could be used for student accommodation or inner-city residential.

“Of course, it is intended to retain and make a feature of the building's significant heritage façade and the council intends to on-sell this building once it has been redeveloped.”

The creative precinct plans by Hassell and Cumulus Studio showed modern building and streetscape which would house a education facility, a virtual and augmented reality enterprise, commercial offices, food premises, retail and student accommodation.

Construction is expected to commence in 2021, with staged openings throughout late 2022 through until quarter four of 2023.

New Creative Group Managing Director Chris Billing said the development would help the city become a new creative and digital hub, advising “it is an exciting time for Launceston, as we work towards a creative vision that will drive an influx of fresh space and new thinking, helping us build our local economy and foster internationally-recognised education.”

Images: Architects concepts for Launceston’s new creative precinct (top) and the historic Birchalls bookstore, once Australia's oldest book shop, which closed in 2017 after 173 years (below). Images supplied.

Related Articles

11th June 2020 - Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery to welcome back visitors on 23rd June

4th June 2020 - Live Performance Australia’s $345 million plan to restart and rebuild the entertainment industry

2nd June 2020 - Reopening of cultural institutions coincides with Australian Government considering support for arts and entertainment sector

21st May 2020 - Jobs in the arts and hospitality could take five years to recover to pre-Coronavirus levels

17th March 2020 - HOTA and MONA close to prevent spread of Coronavirus

11th March 2020 - Coronavirus fears impacting music festivals around the world with Coachella postponed and Tasmania’s Dark Mofo cancelled

13th November 2019 - City of Launceston approves development of gasworks art gallery

1st March 2019 - New Tasmanian arts partnership announced

26th June 2018 - Tasmanian Government backs Mona Foma move to Launceston

22nd December 2017 - Royal Launceston agricultural show to end after 144 years

16th June 2017 - Launceston’s Junction Arts Festival secures Tasmanian Government funding until 2021

3rd July 2014 - Value of the Arts explored at APACA’s annual conference

27th November 2013 - Study reveals the impact of Public Art Museums

28th June 2010 - Regional Arts Conference Heads to Launceston

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.