Dragonfly Inn owners sink their teeth into new project, redeveloping Arthouse Hostel

Fresh off another win at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards, the couple behind a beloved heritage inn are working on a new restoration project. Read more >>>

Tom Garven and Bec Richardson, co-owners of Dragonfly Inn, proud to announce a new project. Picture: Supplied

The team behind the award winning accommodation, the Dragonfly Inn, are eyeing off their latest project.

In the state’s northwest, co-owners Tom Garven and Bec Richardson, are redeveloping the Arthouse Hostel in Invermay.

Like the Dragonfly Inn, the owners will have to balance bringing the building back to life as well as honouring its heritage.

Mr Garven said he’d always had an eye on the building since moving back to Tassie in 2016 while previously the building had been out of reach, but after several years experience with the Dragonfly, the building popped up for sale.

“At the time we were looking for something new to sink our teeth into,” he said.

Tom Garven and Bec Richardson, co-owners of Dragonfly Inn in the north, proud to announce a new project. Picture: supplied

“It certainly needs a lot of work but the vision we have for it is pretty exciting.”

The couple plan to make Arthouse into Fenway, a more upscale hostel and accommodation.

“We definitely want the main heritage features to stand out and then bring all the comforts of modern accommodation into that,” Mr Garven said.

He said while updating the accomodation for more privacy, it would still offer a community feel.

Arthouse Hostel on Lindsay Street in Invermay was built in 1888, with 17 bedrooms and five bathrooms.

While the development is expected to be around $200,000 to $250,000, if the updates are kept to a minimum.

“If we do the Rolls Royce approach, which we would ideally like to do, we’d be looking at three quarters of a million dollars to bring it up to standard,” Mr Garven said.

Also on the cards is an expansion to their award-winning accommodation, the Dragonfly Inn in West Launceston.

In an application to the City of Launceston, the development would build 11 accommodation units at the rear of the property.

The inn is a heritage property but the annex behind the house isn’t and the plans will look to demolish the existing building.

The current annex building has long-term rental units.

Plans for the new accomodation for the Dragonfly Inn. Picture: supplied

Mr Garven said there was a need for more accommodation in Launceston, saying it had been a busy summer season.

“We’re always turning people away in summer,” he said.

“With the number of flights and the new Spirits of Tasmania ships, we will be doing well if we can increase capacity to be able to handle that.”

Mr Garven said he was hopeful to get Fenway up and running by Christmas.

Originally published as Dragonfly Inn owners sink their teeth into new project, redeveloping Arthouse Hostel