Ocean Child revamp will go before the Hobart City Council

A ‘significant’ Hobart hotel and pub could be set for a revamp, with the owners hoping to add an extra two storeys on top of the building. But experts have warned the proponent needs to tread carefully. The plans.

Plans for the Ocean Child Hotel. Image: S Group

A Hobart pub, established in 1844, could be refurbished and have extra floors added, but because the building is considered to be significant, heritage experts say the proponent needs to tread carefully.

A development application for the changes to the Ocean Child on Argyle St is being publicly advertised with the Hobart City Council.

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The changes would include refurbishment of the ground level and first floor, along with construction of a second and third floor.

Planned for the second floor is an open air bar, while the third floor would be used for self contained hotel rooms.

The changes would increase the height of the building from 8m to 13.5m.

“The proposed building height contributes positively to the streetscape and does not unreasonably impact on amenity in residential zones over 200m away because it sits comfortably in the range of building heights existing in the nearby area,” a consultant said in the planning report.

The Ocean Child was first licensed in 1844, and was later acquired by the Cascade Brewery Company in 1883. It was sold more than 100 years later in 1988.

Old images of the Ocean Child (date believed to be 1930s). Image: Libraries Tasmania.

In a heritage report for the development, planners said the building was significant because it contributed to the streetscape and the community’s sense of place. They said it was not heritage listed.

Old images of the Ocean Child (date believed to be 1900s). Image: Libraries Tasmania.

“The Ocean Child Hotel is locally listed as a place of heritage significance and a place of archaeological potential,” they said.

“The adjoining properties at 23-25 Melville St and 88 Argyle St are both listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.”

They said changes would need to carefully considered, as the risk to impacting the aesthetic was moderately high.

The impact on one of the neighbouring properties also had the potential to be high.

Planners said no on site parking was proposed because the existing carparking in the area was enough to meet the demand.

They said the inclusion of parking would impact on the building’s heritage aspects.

Originally published as Ocean Child revamp will go before the Hobart City Council