Plans have been released for a new $15m New Norfolk hotel at Willow Court

Plans for a $15 million, 22-room boutique hotel at one of Tasmania’s most historic sites have been revealed.

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FRESH plans have been revealed for a $15 million, 22-room boutique hotel at one of the state’s most historic sites.

The proponents behind New Norfolk Distillery, who last year received council approval to convert former Willow Court hospital ward Alonnah House into a $3m rum venue, have released expansion plans they hope to construct at the precinct.

New Norfolk Distillery director Tarrant Derksen said the hotel would take Willow Court to a “new level” while preserving the existing site and its heritage. “We plan to undertake a multi-staged build process, opening up more and more of the precinct’s unique and meaningful heritage to the public at every stage,” Mr Derksen said.

Hotel proposal for Willow Court.

He said the hotel would be built on top of Alonnah House on a suspended platform to “celebrate” the building below.

“The historical significance of the site and the connection people of New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley have to Willow Court have informed our design process, which is built around preserving and revitalising the buildings, which have fallen into disrepair,” he said.

About 50 jobs would be created during construction of the bespoke art hotel, with a further 50 jobs ongoing once complete, Mr Derksen said.

“The adaptive re-use of these buildings will ensure they are the start of a greater redevelopment of Willow Court and assist in community rebuilding from the COVID-19 crisis by creating jobs in construction now and then build the hospitality and tourism sector into the future, while showcasing all the region has to offer,” he said.

“Importantly, we will seek to employ locals wherever possible to ensure the distillery maximises the benefit it brings to our community.”

Mr Derksen said he had been pleased with community response to the plans.

“Locals are really rallying around what we have proposed, and we are extremely grateful for the support they have shown our locally produced rums since we launched last year,” he said.

“It’s our wish for the New Norfolk Distillery to be a part of the fabric of the town like Willow Court was in the past and to be synonymous with New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley.”

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