Morris’ General Store Swansea set for hotel, dining redevelopment

A three-storey East Coast Tasmania store is set for a massive makeover, with the new owner planning to install a boutique hotel, food and beverage outlets and prestige townhouses on-site.

A historic three-storey East Coast Tasmania general store, built in 1838, is set for a massive redevelopment, with the new owner unveiling plans to install a boutique hotel, new food and beverage outlets, and prestige townhouses on-site.

Red Panda Property Group managing director Andrew McCullagh, who The Mercury on Monday revealed was also planning a $50m redevelopment of TasTAFE’s disused Launceston campus, said his plans would respect the “heritage and fabric” of Swansea’s Morris’ General Store, located at 13–15 Franklin St.

The Morris General Store in Swansea, Tasmania. PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

The brick and stone building, constructed on behalf of J.A. Graham in 1838, who later became the first warden of the Municpality of Glamorgan in 1860, was for more than 150 years associated with five generations of the Morris family.

However, under plans revealed by Mr McCullagh, the existing Morris’ IGA would be relocated north into a 101-lot residential subdivision planned by Red Panda, details of which will be revealed by The Mercury in the coming days, to enable the redevelopment.

It would see the existing three-storey, heritage-listed building repurposed into a “boutique hotel”, featuring six–eight suites and several penthouses on the upper two levels, with the ground floor housing a reception and possibly office space and “delicatessen or similar offering”.

Proposal to redevelop Swansea's historic Morris' General Store. Picture: Red Panda Property Group

The hotel would be called The Morris, Mr McCullagh said, to “keep the history and heritage and fabric of that space”.

“We’ve got a duty of care and obligation to keep that history.”

Meanwhile, two-level additions would be annexed to the northern and southern ends of the building, which would contain “gourmet shops and food outlets... (and) bars and restaurants”.

To the rear of the site, on the waterfront of Coles Bay overlooking The Hazards, Mr McCullagh intends to construct six three-bedroom, three-storey townhouses, which he expects to fetch a price of between $2.2–$2.8m each.

Jim Morris (left) and his son Paul, who operate Morris’ IGA and General Store but have sold the building, which is set for redevelopment. PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

“It’ll be the bees knees, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.

“It’s like the French Riviera.”

Mr McCullagh entered into a contract to purchase the site from the Morris family in December last year, with settlement to occur in October.

Mr McCullagh said he had sent preliminary plans through to Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council, who he believed were supportive of his proposal.

He expects to lodge a formal development application by July.

He said his plans had not yet been fully costed as he was awaiting quotes for the construction of the six townhouses.