DarkLab and developer Riverlee set to open $5m ‘In the Hanging Garden’ cultural precinct in Hobart’s CBD

A $5 million cultural precinct featuring live music, outdoor dining and night markets is set to open in central Hobart next month.

A $5 MILLION cultural precinct featuring live music, outdoor dining and night markets is set to open in central Hobart next month.

Melbourne-based developers Riverlee, in collaboration with Mona subsidiary DarkLab, are set to launch stage one of the development to be known as “In the Hanging Garden”. The new precinct has been in the works for about two years.

It is contained within a 6834m2 block encompassing the Odeon Theatre and the former Tattersalls Hotel in Liverpool St, but with street frontages also in Watchorn and Murray streets.

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Designed by the same architects who designed the Mona museum, Fender Katsalidis, it will open to the public in the first week of June, to coincide with the start of Dark Mofo.

After the festival finishes, the precinct will remain open and operated by DarkLab on a permanent basis, seven days a week.

The precinct includes the retained Odeon Theatre, the renovated former Tattersall’s Hotel, extensive outdoor dining, a beer garden, and entertainment areas.

DarkLab director Leigh Carmichael with Riverlee development director David Lee at the Odeon Theatre, in Liverpool St, in 2017. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Local businesses will occupy pop-up kitchen tenancies, weekends will offer live music, and new function spaces will also be available.

In a letter sent on Tuesday to stakeholders, Riverlee development director and DarkLab director Leigh Carmichael explain the long-term vision for the site.

“Community feedback will help guide the future masterplan, as Riverlee and DarkLab continue to develop their plans to transform the site into a broader cultural precinct for the city,” the letter states.

“In later stages of the development, Riverlee and DarkLab expect private capital investment to exceed $200m, promising significant flow-on effects to the Tasmanian economy.

Carmichael and Lee inside the Odeon. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“With a joint-vision to deliver a new cultural hub for the city of Hobart, Riverlee and DarkLab are currently working on a proposed planning framework for Hobart City Council, to realise this vision.

There are currently two development applications lodged with the HCC. The first involves preliminary works and the second is for a temporary structure within the carpark, which will include hanging plants from the roof.

More information, including precinct details, architectural renders, tenants and the music program for the Altar Bar will be revealed exclusively by the Mercury next week.