Regrowth for mill site
A CONTROVERSIAL site which has sat largely dormant for more than a decade has finally sprung back to life.
The Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna will launch this week as a function and events space with two performance sites, accommodation, a function area including a commercial kitchen and a large organic garden.
The industrial nature of the site has been maintained with existing infrastructure repurposed and reimagined.
The site is now breathing new life into the region, employing up to 50 staff on any given day and involving the school and community in the garden by teaching horticultural skills and distributing the produce.
Kathmandu founder and former Bellamy’s director Jan Cameron and wotif founder Graeme Wood bought the mill for $10 million in 2011, after Gunns ceased operations at the site due to a downturn in the woodchip market. The sale to a pair of environmentally minded multi-millionaires was not well received by many in the community because it dashed hopes the region’s forestry industry would be revived. The sale was the subject of a 2014 parliamentary inquiry.
Also in 2014, a legal dispute resulted in Mr Wood buying out Ms Cameron’s stake in the site.
Spring Bay Mill general manager Robert Williams said the site’s industrial heritage was celebrated in the new venture.
“This is a very spectacular place and we have repurposed it in a way that is clever and quirky.”
Mr Williams said that in addition to the three beach shacks and 32 glamping sites (12 of which are already standing), construction would soon begin on 12 self-contained apartments in the old workers’ quarters. But he said the focus was on events tourism and at this stage you could only book to stay when attending a function.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said a tourism lunch at the venue tomorrow would be a great showcase for the venue.
“There’s been a lot of talk about this project so it will be good for people to see for themselves,” he said.
Mr Martin said that Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison and other tourism big names would speak about the 2020 outlook and would likely discuss challenges facing tourism.
“We have amazing speakers, but I think they’ll be playing second fiddle to the venue.”