Nine-storey office and retail building in Hanging Garden precinct approved by Hobart City Council

A nine-storey building to join the Hanging Garden precinct has received the green light to forge ahead on the corner of an empty CBD intersection. What’s planned >>

Hobart City Council has approved a nine-storey mixed-use building at 25 Watchorn Street and 116 Bathurst Street to be developed by Riverlee and Darklab. Picture: Fender Katsalidis

A nine-storey building comprising retail and office space has been approved by the Hobart City Council’s Planning Committee, in a significant step forward for the Hanging Garden precinct in the CBD.

The development by Melbourne property development group Riverlee will be located on the corner of Bathurst and Watchorn streets, and represents the next piece of the puzzle for Darklab’s urban project, underpinned by its In the Hanging Garden venue on Murray St.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis, the newly approved building at 25 Watchorn St will be directly adjacent to the main Hanging Garden site, which features bars, hospitality venues, and the Altar nightclub.

Artist impressions for an office development at 116 Bathurst Street and 25 Watchorn Street, Hobart. Image: Fender Katsalidis for DarkLab.

It will have a maximum height of 40.5m, a total gross floor area of 13,733 sq/m, and will also include parking for 16 cars and storage for 38 bikes. Seven floors will be taken up by office space.

The site was previously occupied by the Xerox shop and before that a service station. A commercial car park is currently located on-site.

Riverlee development director David Lee, speaking on behalf of the Hanging Garden Group, welcomed the council’s decision, saying the “open and transparent debate” at the meeting was appreciated.

“We understand the sensitivity around development in the city, and the impact it has on residents, and we will continue working closely with our neighbours to ensure an outcome that is best for the city,” he said.

The building will be located opposite The Commons residential apartment block on the other side of Watchorn St.

The council received 14 public representations objecting to the proposal, with concerns raised including potential adverse environmental, heritage, and community impacts, the perceived inappropriate and excessive scale, height, and bulk of the building, and the capacity of Watchorn St to support increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Artist impressions for an office development at 116 Bathurst Street and 25 Watchorn Street, Hobart. Image: Fender Katsalidis for DarkLab.

An application for a taller version of the building was withdrawn before being considered by the council in 2022, after planning officers raised concerns about its suitability under the planning scheme.

Hobart’s Planning Committee gave the green light to the updated proposal at a meeting on Wednesday evening, applying a number of conditions to the permit, including a developer contribution of $445,000 to the council for “civic amenities”.

Councillors Louise Elliot, Marti Zucco, and John Kelly left the meeting before the vote. Of the elected members still in attendance, Cr Mike Dutta was the only one who voted against the proposal.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds hailed the decision as evidence that the council was backing “high-quality projects that benefit our community and economy”.

“This project, along with recent approvals for multiple dwellings on Barrack St and a landmark commercial building at the former Spotlight site, reflects our city’s evolution as a dynamic and thriving hub,” she said.