Former St Helens Private Hospital finally sold but details confidential for now

One of Hobart’s prime CBD sites has been sold. But the details remain confidential.

Madeline Swannell current patient at St Helen's Private Hospital. Rally in support of St Helen's Private Hospital in the Executive Building forecourt. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The former St Helens Private Hospital has been sold – but the details remain secret.

The hospital, which began operating in 1919, closed in June 2023.

Angry and distressed patients rallied against the closure of the hospital which had 31 general psychiatric inpatient beds and an eight-bed mother and baby unit.

Healthscope and real estate agents Knight Frank confirmed the sale but declined to say who had bought the hospital, which occupies a prime city location.

“We can confirm that the sale of the St Helens Hospital site was finalised in late February,” Healthscope told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“For confidentiality reasons, we cannot comment on the details of the sale.”

Knight Frank partner Scott Newton also was tight-lipped politely declining to reveal any of the sale details.

Adjunct Associate Professor Steven Bernardi speaks to the media about the St Helens Private Hospital closure in Hobart on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

When St Helens closed Healthscope nearly two years ago, Healthscope’s national manager mental health Adjunct Associate Professor Steven Bernardi said: “We know St Helen’s Private Hospital has played a big role in the lives of many Tasmanians and provided important services to them over the years.”

The state government committed to providing a specialised mother and baby unit and Prof Bernardi said at the time that the Hobart Clinic would provide some of St Helen’s mental health services.

The Macquarie St hospital precinct is unique because of its size at 4622 sq m and in that it has access from the city’s two major roads including Davey St.

It includes a large stone and brick mansion built in 1887-88 and designed by Henry Hunter.

St Helen's Private Hospital, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

When the hospital went on the market it was reported that it attracted international interest.

Knight Frank say they fielded inquiries from potential buyers based mostly interstate but alongside some local and overseas developers, too.

The agents it was the first property of such size and significance to hit the market for several years after they sold the Conservatorium of Music on Sandy Bay Rd in 2017.

They said the property had flexibility for a range of uses.

“It could be repurposed by someone in the healthcare sector, a day surgery, student accommodation, a boutique hotel, office or consulting use — Hobart has the lowest office vacancy in Australia — or potentially low cost housing.”

Originally published as Former St Helens Private Hospital finally sold but details confidential for now