Next port of call for open house hunters

FEW buildings in Hobart offer views quite as spectacular as those from the top of the Hobart Port Tower at Macquarie Point, and the public has a rare chance to soak them in.

TasPorts will open the tower to the public as part of Tasmania’s popular architecture and design event, Open House Hobart, this month. The three-day 2017 program is the biggest to date, featuring 59 buildings open to the public.

It will begin tomorrow and continue next Saturday and Sunday.

Organised and run by the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, Open House Hobart is the local version of a global event first held in 1992.

TasPorts is offering free tours of the Hobart Port Tower next Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday is booked out, but there are still places available for Sunday. The tower was used to manage the arrival and departure of all ships in Hobart and is still used as the main observation point for all under-bridge crossings.

TasPorts manager of property Alex Barber said with the tower standing at more than 36m tall and offering 360 degree views, visitors would be blown away by the vista.

“It’s a great way to see Hobart in a different light. Not many people get to experience that process of being able to go up to what is normally a secure part of our operation,” Mr Barber said.

“It’s a fantastic bird’s eye view of Hobart and in particular Sullivans Cove and looking down towards the bridge.”

The full list of participating properties can be found at openhousehobart.org