Historic Oatlands seeks hotel to fill void as tourism grows

A historic Tasmanian town is experiencing a revival and rapid growth in its tourism sector has forced its council to start a hunt for a hotel developer.

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THE historic town of Oatlands is fast becoming a tourist mecca and its local council is now seeking a developer to build a boutique hotel.

The Southern Midlands Council has launched a Request for Proposals process in search of someone to establish the hotel on a site which is currently public land.

The suitable proponent will develop and operate a hotel with at least a 4-star rating and 30+ rooms, with facilities such as a bar, restaurant and multipurpose meeting/conference room.

A 5590sq m central site in Barrack St has been identified and will be made available for purchase by the successful proponent.

It would be the first accommodation facility of its size in the Oatlands region.

The rebirth of Oatlands as a tourist town is being lead by a $14 million whisky distillery being built near the town’s historic landmark, the 1837 Callington Mill.

Oatlands’ distinctive Callington Mill. Picture: Kelvin Ball

Also in recent time the local pub The Kentish has reopened and new wine bar the Imbibers is drawing crowds.

Mayor Alex Green said that the proposed hotel would fill a gap in the region’s tourism infrastructure that has been acknowledged for many years.

“The proposed hotel will open up Oatlands and the surrounding region to a whole new visitor accommodation market. It will complement, not compete with, the existing small scale B&Bs.”

Oatlands feature a number of Georgian sandstone buildings. Picture: Eddie Safarik

Cr Green said a design befitting of the special nature of the village was important.

“Oatlands has more Georgian sandstone buildings in a village setting than any other town in Australia and we are looking to attract high quality proposals from hotel developers/operators with the vision and an understanding to create a special visitor experience befitting of the unique historic heritage values of Oatlands.”

Register interest via the project’s contact officer, Damian Mackey, by emailing

[e-mail], or calling 0499 782 584.

The deadline for proposals is 24 February 2021.