Heritage lover John Kelly peeling back the layers at Australia’s longest running watering hole

Preserving Hobart’s heritage is what makes John Kelly tick, and after turning the State Cinema into a cultural institution, he continues his one-man mission at another historical pub.

Hobart Councillor and independent candidate for Hobart, John Kelly, at the Hope & Anchor Hotel. Picture: Chris Kidd

Preserving Hobart’s unique built heritage is what makes John Kelly tick.

After turning North Hobart’s State Cinema into a Tasmanian cultural institution, then successfully resurrecting the nearby Crescent Hotel, Mr Kelly has begun the task of restoring the historic Hope and Anchor Hotel to its former glory.

Now a City of Hobart councillor and candidate for the seat of Hobart in the 4 May Legislative Council elections, Mr Kelly is on a one-man mission to arrest what he describes as a disturbing trend of recent heritage pub closures, which included the Ocean Child, the Duke of Wellington, and the Brisbane Hotel.

Hope and Anchor Tavern has been sold to John Kelly known for redeveloping heritage style buildings. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“After taking myself out of the operation of the State Cinema, I went on to purchase this building, which is another renovation rescue project that I love doing,” Mr Kelly said.

“Slowly, over the last year and a half, I have started cleaning it up and restoring it to what the Hope and Anchor really represents, which are a deep link to the maritime history of Hobart, and to colonial occupation.

“It’s Australia’s oldest continually licensed venue, going back to 1807, with the original building replaced with convict labour with convict bricks in 1840, which is the what is here today.

“So it has a deep, deep link to the past, and I’m going to faithfully restore it.”

Mr Kelly said he understood the challenges facing owner-operator hotels, citing huge increases in operating overheads, staff shortages, and “over-regulation” as the major hurdles to ongoing profitability.

The Duke Hotel in Macquarie Street, Hobart

But he said that Hobart’s historic pubs scene offered tourists a unique point of difference to the often bland and uninspired entertainment venues that proliferated interstate and overseas.

“I want people to walk in here and say ‘Wow, what an incredibly old pub’, and not feel like it’s a makeover with furnishings and fixtures from 30 or 40 years ago, or that don’t really reflect the true past of the building,” Mr Kelly said.

“There are so many people that want to come to Australia’s oldest venue, and that’s what I want this place to reflect for them.

“The statistics say that 25 per cent of visitors to Hobart come to see heritage, so it’s a big drawcard.

“People want to visit local restaurants and bars, speak with local people, and eat and drink local produce.

“A big part of that for us is this building, which is the hero, and has sat here for 200 years.

“The Hobart and Anchor being is at ground zero of European occupation, right on the waterfront in Sullivan’s Cove, which is quite remarkable.” 

Mr Kelly said that after an extensive period in private enterprise and recent experiences as an elected member of council, he was at an age where he was ready to “put up or shut up”.

His run for the upper house was all about using his lived experience to see what positive changes he could effect for his constituents.

“I am happy to serve in whichever way people are happy for me to,” Mr Kelly said.

“The council has been a great education, and now an opportunity has arisen with Rob Valentine retiring after a long stint.

“I was waiting to see the quality of candidates who stood, and I was disappointed to see that there was no-one who had lived in Hobart their whole life, been in small business, or had the connection with the community that I now have.

“So in the absence of those candidates, I decided to throw my hat into the ring.

“I have no assistance ... The only endorsement I am seeking is from the voters.”

Originally published as Heritage lover John Kelly peeling back the layers at Australia’s longest running watering hole