Hobart small businesses ready for changes when their new University of Tasmania moves in

Hobart is on the cusp of becoming a university town, but how will mid-town retail cope with the University of Tasmania’s move from Sandy Bay to the CBD?

Demolition of the old Red Cross building taking place on Melville Street Hobart, the site for UTAS expansion. UTAS follow on announcement of Sandy Bay campus moving to the city. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

NEIGHBOURS of the University of Tasmania’s future city home have expressed their hopes and fears about the new kid on the CBD block.

Many small-business owners near the heart of the new UTAS city campus have welcomed the prospect of extra people funnelling into the mid-town mix.

But there are also concerns the cash-strapped student population may have limited capacity to spend money around their new digs.

Sue Stagg of The Stagg coffee shop following UTAS’ announcement that the Sandy Bay campus is moving to the city. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Café owner Sue Stagg, who runs The Stagg coffee shop in Elizabeth Street, said she hoped bringing more people into the city would be good for business – but the mix of newcomers might determine the success for traders.

“I’m all for development - and bringing more people into the city is awesome,” Mrs Stagg said.

“My only concern is bringing more people into the city who don’t have the funds to spend in the city.”

Asian eateries and an Asian grocery that have popped up on Elizabeth Street since the UTAS student accommodation building was complete. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mrs Stagg said she hoped the influx of students, who will be studying in the city and living in new student accommodation, did not push out workers and tourists with higher disposable incomes.

The University of Tasmania announced on Friday it will move away from its Sandy Bay campus and consolidate its future in Hobart’s CBD.

The $600 million plan will unfold over the next 10-15 years, and see the university’s city-centric campus run from the original home of the university at the Domain, along Melville St.

At the heart of the inner-city campus will be a new central library and public square at the former Webster building and carpark bounded by Melville, Argyle and Bathurst streets.

The business closest to the action, McDonald’s on Argyle St, has welcomed the move.

Manager Nasim Salekeen said the more crowds in the city the better.

“It will create more employment and be good for businesses,” he said.

Katinka Challen of Lily & Dot on Elizabeth Street. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Elizabth St business owner Katinka Challen, who owns Lily & Dot on Elizabeth St, welcomed the extra activity in mid-town Hobart.

“I think it’s a really exciting opportunity and will add a new vibrancy to the city,” she said.

“I understand there are some concerns from small business owners, and – having been a university student myself – I know students don’t have a lot to spend.

“But we will have to find ways of being relevant to a new market and a new group of customers.”

Tradewear owner John Oldmeadow said he was concerned the student population might cause a change in the traditional mix of shops.

He said the new popluation “might be good for food outlets - which are bobbing up all over the palce - but it would be an awful shame if too much changed”.

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Mr Oldmeadow said he was also concerned themove out of Sandy Bay could erode the traditional university way of life.

“I think a great part of being at university is the social and sporting interests – I don’t know how that will work with parts of the university dotted all over the city,” he said.

Nelson candidate Madeleine Ogilvie, a UTAS law graduate, said she was disappointed by the move from Sandy Bay.

“Moving the campus will create a gap in the cultural, intellectual and creative life of the Sandy Bay community that will be very hard to fill,” she said.

She said it would also create further congestion in central Hobart.

“Students and employees are already wondering where they will be able to park in the city, and whether the traffic congestion will intensify with so many more people in the city.”

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