In the Hanging Garden by Mona’s DarkLab set to change the face of inner city Hobart

UPDATED: Hobart is set to become more of a 24-hour city, with several offerings within Mona’s new CBD precinct to be available 24 hours a day. SEE THE DETAILS

In the Hanging Garden render. The development will be open to the public in two weeks. Image: Fender Katsalidis Architects

HOBART is set to become more of a 24-hour city, with several offerings within Mona’s new CBD precinct to be available 24 hours a day.

As revealed by the Mercury this month, Melbourne-based developers Riverlee, in collaboration with Mona subsidiary DarkLab, will launch the $5 million stage one of the development to be known as In the Hanging Garden — a reference to lyrics by English band The Cure: “In the Hanging Garden, no one sleeps.”

More details have been released on the precinct, which will open to the public on June 5.

DARKLAB, RIVERLEE TO OPEN CBD CULTURAL PRECINCT

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

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

In the Hanging Garden render. Image: Fender Katsalidis Architects

Designed by the same architects who designed the Mona museum, Fender Katsalidis, it will feature a Babylonian-style planting grid with real greenery and an 18m cathedral shade structure.

It will include extensive outdoor dining, night markets, a beer garden and entertainment areas.

Multiple food trucks will be trading from the Watchorn St frontage and 24-hour food offerings will be on the Murray St side.

Kitchen tenants will include:

* Pilgrim’s Progress: by award-winning Will Priestly of Pilgrim, which will permanently occupy the ‘Red Room’ premises on Murray St and open 24 hours a day.

* Vigil: a street-food concept from Jonathan Kincaid and Brianna Clancy, formerly of Ethos, Etties and Dier Makr and founders of Ruckus Fried Chicken. Will include a changing menu of locally and ethically sourced food with craft beer and natural wines.

* Kavorka: by Megan Quill, former co-owner of Tricycle cafe in Salamanca, inspired by her Latvian and Lithuanian heritage.

Mona's Leigh Carmichael with Riverlee Development Director David Lee at the Odeon Theatre on Liverpool Street in 2017. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

IN THE HANGING GARDEN 112 Murray Street, Hobart ● Odeon Theatre ○ Live music venue in one of Tasmania’s oldest theatres, 167 Liverpool St, Hobart ○ Live music programmed and promoted by DarkLab from September ○ Open weekends 7pm — 11pm ● In the Hanging Garden ○ Outdoor dining ○ Beer garden ○ Pop-up kitchens with local producers ○ Open 7 days a week, midday to late ● Altar ○ Live music venue on ground floor of former Tattersall’s Hotel, 112 Murray St, Hobart ○ Operated, programmed, and promoted by DarkLab ○ Open weekends 7pm — 11pm + more ● High Altar ○ Nightclub on first floor of former Tattersall’s Hotel ○ Open weekends 11pm — 4am, from September ● Opening Night Wednesday June 5 from 8pm: Free entry, $6.66 beer and wine In the Hanging Garden. Free music in Altar, including David Chesworth, Kim Salmon and a surprise headliner.

Riverlee development director David Lee said the company aimed to transform the site into a “vibrant cultural precinct for the city and the people of Hobart”.

“It was actually David’s [Walsh] suggestion that at first, we open up our doors and let the city in,” he said.

“We agreed that before we can design a cultural precinct for the people, we first need to bring the people into the precinct — to give them the opportunity to explore the site, interact with the space, and to create their own culture.

“It has been an enjoyable journey thus far, and we are both excited and humbled with the opportunity to partner with DarkLab on this project, to deliver something truly unique for the city.”

DarkLab director Leigh Carmichael said if Hobart is to assert its reputation as a cultural leader in Australia, these types of projects are essential.

“We have a vision for this site to become a significant cultural facility in the heart of Hobart,” he said.

“We hope it inspires a reinvigorated CBD, and that other businesses can also capitalise.

“There is momentum building in Hobart at present, and this project has the potential to be a game-changer for the city centre.”

Photo of the old Tattersalls Hotel site that Mona is currently developing. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Lee and Mr Carmichael said a longer term vision for the site would be developed as part of a future masterplan for a broader cultural precinct worth at least $200 million.