Freedom movement: retailer undecided on relocation as CBD closure approaches

A major furniture and homewares retailer says it is yet to secure a new location as the closure of its “iconic” Hobart store draws near.

Freedom Furniture’s future in Hobart remains clouded after the major retail chain confirmed it had not yet made a decision on a new location.

It comes amid speculation the store will relocate away from the Hobart CBD to either Cambridge or Moonah, after the University of Tasmania bought the retailer’s Brisbane St building in a $9m deal last year.

The Hobart store, which has been operated by franchise owner Tony Sheppard and his wife Carol for 25 years, will stop trading at Brisbane St when the current building lease expires on September 22.

A relocation spot may not be chosen until three weeks out from the lease end date, a Freedom spokesperson said.

“Freedom is currently looking into a number of options and will be making a decision closer to the store end of lease date in late August,” they said.

The Freedom building on Brisbane St, Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Freedom Hobart store worker told the Mercury they were “devastated” to hear the store would be leaving the CBD.

The worker said they had been with Freedom for nearly 10 years and the Brisbane St store had been “iconic”.

“We are a close knit retail family and to suddenly be told Freedom would no longer be in the CBD was devastating to all including the owner,” they said.

“When our customers found out they also voiced their dismay. The journey has been long and full of anxiety for all of us.”

Franchise owner Tony Sheppard previously told the Mercury he was going to retire when the outlet changed location.

“I’ll stay and help with the transition to a new store,” he said following the sale of the building last year.

“We have staff here that have been with us for more than 20 years and they’ve been amazing, so I really want to see them into a new home before I go.

An artist’s impression of UTAS development at old Forestry Tasmania site in Hobart. Picture: Supplied

“But after that, it just seems like the right time that someone else will take it on.”

The sale of the Brisbane St building was a strategic coup for UTAS in its plans for an inner-city campus, after the university purchased the adjoining Forestry building on Melville St for a reported $15m in 2019.

UTAS announced plans earlier this year to house its business, economics and law faculties at the site.

The development application will be considered by the Hobart City Council later this year.

Vice Chancellor Rufus Black said in March the site was “perfectly located” with its proximity to parking, student accommodation and services.

“People who work in the city can study a short course at lunchtime or after work, or balance work and part time study,” Professor Black said.

“It’s also close to existing transport, which means that the area of Greater Hobart we can service with the facility is much bigger than the current Sandy Bay campus.”