Fragrance Hotel Launceston: Cimitiere St mega-hotel returns with slimmed-down design
A global hospitality group has resubmitted plans for a controversial five-star hotel development in a Tasmanian city’s CBD, featuring fewer rooms and less height. See the designs.
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A global hospitality group has resubmitted plans for a controversial five-star hotel development in a Tasmanian city’s CBD.
Singapore-headquartered Fragrance Group, a division of Global Premium Hotels Limited, originally gained approval to construct a 12-storey, 230-room hotel at 130–136 Cimitiere St, the site of the historic art deco Alfred Harrap & Son Warehouse, in 2020.
Construction never commenced, however, and now the developer has submitted a modified proposal to council, two-and-a-half years after its plans survived a planning tribunal appeal by community group Launceston Heritage Not Highrise.
Under the new application, the main hotel – possibly called WTC City Park, according to Scanlan Architects designs – would now comprise 179 rooms, with two storeys shaved from the proposal, taking it down from 44m to 35m.
While this still exceeds the height allowed under the Launceston planning scheme, town planner Ireneinc Planning, in a report submitted in support of the proposal, said that the new design’s reduced bulk and greater setbacks satisfied the scheme’s performance outcomes.
“The core changes proposed as part of this application seek a reduced overall height of the building, substantially reduce the bulk and increase frontage and side boundary setbacks across the upper levels – resulting in a proposal that seeks to achieve greater compatibility with the streetscape and character of [existing developments],” the report said.
The ground floor and first three storeys would be given over to a podium with a “multi-level public plaza and landscaped forecourt,” a bar and restaurant, hotel lobby, cafe, spa tenancy, and conference rooms.
All facades of the heritage-listed warehouse would be retained, but a number of buildings would be demolished to make way for the main hotel.
They include demolition of the rear of the Rankin & Bond Pty Ltd building at 136 Cimitiere St, the entire Aurora Energy building at 132 Cimitiere St, the rear of the City Park Grand Conference Centre at 130 Cimitiere St, and the single-storey sections of the warehouse.
Fragrance Group’s plans also take in the Grand Hotel at 22 Tamar St, which would be retained and operate as a boutique hotel connected to the main development via a cobblestoned laneway and plaza.
It would feature a total of 55 rooms, with the developer seeking to construct a new entry lobby, an additional guest suite wing, and perform internal upgrades.
The two hotels would possess 105 carparking spaces in total and generate an additional 910 vehicle movements per day on occasions when busy events such as conferences are hosted.
The application is being advertised by the City of Launceston until October 17 for submissions.
The new hotel complex is one of three mega projects proposed across Launceston’s CBD by different proponents.
Developer Andrew McCullagh, of Red Panda Property Group, is seeking to redevelop the former TasTAFE site on Wellington St into what will be known as the reUNION District.
He previously told the Mercury it would feature co a five-star, 139-room hotel, 13 boutique private apartments, a brewery, distillery, wine bar, and an array of restaurants and cafes.
Just around the corner, JAC Group’s five-star Gorge Hotel, located at the corner of Paterson and Brisbane streets, would feature 145 rooms, a wellness centre, day spa and gym, restaurant, bars and conference and function facilities.
It has survived multiple appeals, notably by Launceston Councillor Susie Cai, who owns a nearby restaurant, Golden Brumby. JAC Group managing director Dean Cocker previously said the hotel was slated for completion in 2027.
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