SKYBAR PLAN FOR HOBART

Cocktails and mountain views in lofty dining bid

SIPPING cocktails on a rooftop bar in Hobart’s CBD with stunning views of Mt Wellington could be on the cards if an ambitious development plan is given the go-ahead for a landmark city building.

SIPPING cocktails on a rooftop bar in Hobart’s CBD with stunning views of Mt Wellington may be on the cards if an ambitious development plan goes ahead.

The top of the Shadforth Financial Group building in Hobart will be converted into a restaurant and bar under a bold plan from Melbournebased developer Riverlee.

Situated between the National Mutual Life Building and the Mercantile Mutual Building and within the central business zone, the proposal aims to redevelop floors 8-11 of the building at 111 Macquarie St.

The plan involves relocating the existing eighth-floor plant level to the 11th floor of the building, and re-purposing levels 8, 9 and 10 for office space, a restaurant and mezzanine sky bar.

According to documents before Hobart City Council, the proposal includes a new steel lift, encompassed by glass panelling, to provide separate access to the restaurant and sky bar for patrons, which will be accessed off Trafalgar Place.

The ninth floor will be extended to provide for a double-height ceiling for the restaurant and the 10th floor will house the mezzanine sky bar, and include access to a pergola and roof terrace.

Once complete, the building will sit at 49m tall, an extra 4m from its current height.

Ireneinc Planning has provided the report to the council on behalf of Riverlee Australia.

Tasmania Hospitality Association president Steve Old said as long as it met all the planning requirements it sounded like an exciting pro- posal. “It sounds like a great addition to the Hobart restaurant scene,” he said.

“We don’t have many rooftop restaurants.

“Rooftop restaurants are all the rage in Melbourne and this would add another dimension to Hobart’s hospitality industry.”

The developer is seeking a discretion for 30 bicycle parking spaces, specifically those required for the sky bar under the Food Services Use Class, as it is deemed unlikely that customers to the bar would ride bikes to the venue.

The proposal is out for public consultation until October 29.