Hobart City planning authority will vote on apartment development at Kirksway Place

On the border of Salamanca Place and Battery Point is a set of Victorian Georgian cottages, dating back to the 1850s. Two of them could soon have an apartment building out the back. Find out what the council’s planning experts say about the proposal.

Plans for an apartment building at Kirksway Place in Salamanca, behind two Georgian cottages. Image: Irene Inc.

A new apartment building could be built behind two heritage listed 1850s cottages, if it is approved by the Hobart City Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

The building, which would include five apartments across two wings connected by a walkway, would be built at the rear of 23 and 25 Kirksway Place.

Included in the plans is a basement level carpark, with ten car spaces.

It’s estimated the maximum height of the building would be 14.3 metres above ground.

Carparking currently at the sites, landscaping and trees would be demolished to pave the way for the build, but the Victorian Georgian cottages at the front of the lots would remain, aside from the veranda at the back of number 25.

23 and 25 Kirksway Place. Image: Google Maps.

The apartment building would be detached from the cottages.

The council’s cultural heritage officer said the two were important historical structures.

“When walking through St David’s Park from the city, they are the first two houses which mark the beginning of the historical suburb of Battery Point, and are physical reminders of the original alignment of Harrington Street,” they said.

They said the bulk and appearance of the proposed building would impact on the heritages values of the area.

The development is recommended for approval by the council’s planning experts.

“It is considered that this would be an appropriate location for a residential use and would support the businesses and other activities of the Cove without impacting the economic vitality of the area,” a council planning expert said.

The view up the street of what the apartment building at Kirksway Place would look like. Image: Irene Inc.

The council received feedback from six members of the community after the development application was publicly advertised.

Five were opposed to the development.

“The building is very large, it is too tall and boxy and not in keeping with the history of the area,” one said.

“The proposed building is very modernistic and does not fit with Supreme Court,” another said.

The planning committee meets on Wednesday.