Units’ nod to history

A 16-APARTMENT development to be built on the corner of Elizabeth and Brisbane streets aims to set a benchmark for apartment living in Hobart.

The design of The Rox by Core Collective Architects was informed by elements of the adjacent heritage listed 1800sbuilt Roxburgh House. This includes the lime-washed solid brick external walls, horizontal banding and deep set windows.

Every apartment will have an outdoor terrace while the site’s old and new buildings will be separated by a landscaped forecourt.

Hidden behind vacuum retailer Godfreys, 1850s Scotch College will also be restored and converted into two apartments with mezzanine bedrooms. The ground floor of The Rox will house a commercial space.

At four storeys high, the building is under the 15m Hobart City Council planning scheme height limit for that zone. The development will be built by Vos Constructions for Mary Brownell, owner of Roxburgh House and director of Norblack Investments Pty Ltd.

St Andrews Estate Agents will officially launch the apartments to market in the coming days.

It was sent out to the agency’s database on Tuesday, which director Steve Yannarakis said resulted in a huge amount of interest including people walking into the office saying “we really want one”.

“For Mary, this is a legacy project that has been decades in the making,” he said.

“She wants to build something enduring for our city.

“I believe an amazing building like this would fit comfortably into any city, Berlin or Milan, while also fitting the Hobart aesthetic.”