TMAG hope for Hobart treasure

A PUSH to transform part of Hobart’s Treasury buildings into a Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery wing has gained support from the state’s tourism lobby.

Former National Trust council member Christopher Merridew has again come out arguing that part of the group of buildings could be the host of a TMAG expansion.

In November he said the precinct in the heart of Hobart could host TMAG’s colonial art and artefacts while rejecting tourism industry calls to convert the building into a sixstar, 100-room hotel.

Mr Merridew has again urged the State Government to expand TMAG into the historic site in another Talking Point article.

He also said the separate Tasmanian Visitor Centre could be moved to the Murray St-Macquarie St corner of the Treasury site.

“Such interpretation into a valued cultural tourism ex- perience and information office at the most central of venues, being the cornerstone of Hobart’s large collection of substantial Georgian architecture, has had significant public support,” Mr Merridew wrote.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief Luke Martin has called for an independent panel to look at new uses for current and former government-used buildings in Hobart.

It was revealed in November that the buildings cost taxpayers more than $200,000 each year to maintain for the 200 public servants that work there.

Mr Martin reiterated yesterday he wanted to see a mixed use precinct at the Trea- sury site, which clude TMAG.

“A combination of hospital-hospitality, hotels, art and tourismtourism there would be great there,”here” he said.

“A gallery, and a pretty good example is the Henry Jones [Art Hotel], is not beyond the realms of development. Some kind of art space would be consistent with what’s needed there.”

The Mercury’s Tasmania 2022 campaign survey found that 31 per cent of respondents saw redevelopment of heritage sites as important.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein has said the Government was open to considering other uses for the building but any works would require the approval of the Tasmanian Heritage Council.

Arts Minister Elise Archer said in December that alternative locations for part of TMAG would be considered.

City’s heritage gem Talking Point: pages 28-29 coulduld in-