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Plans have been released for the third stage of the Hobart Showground redevelopment, led by the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania (RAST). Having celebrated the site's 200th anniversary of showing in 2021, RAST engaged local architecture practice Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon (BPSM) the following year to develop an earlier masterplan prepared by Partners Hill.
Located 7km from Hobart's CBD, the current site has been occupied by the RAST since 1904. CEO of RAST Scott Gadd noted that in recent years, maintenance costs for the showgrounds' ageing infrastructure had become overbearing, prompting RAST to undertake an overhaul. "We decided we'd come up with a masterplan and think about how we can make better use of the 18 hectares that we had," he explained.
Over the past decade, land parcels along the site's commercial frontage on Howards Road have been leased and sold with the intention of securing funding for the estimated $32 million showground redevelopment - a figure which, Gadd explained, had increased due to supply chain and construction cost pressures from the pandemic.
In a joint statement, BPSM director and managing principal Damian Rogers and senior project leader Sam Henderson noted that their ambition was to "reimagine the original concept for the showgrounds site, incorporating the strategies laid out in the client's future vision for the site, whilst engaging with new economic and societal priorities. Critically, to provide financial sustainability, the release of land for a new public road, flanked by a vibrant mix of contemporary dwellings with varying private, communal, and public spaces was essential to create a residential community alongside the newly proposed showgrounds precinct."
"[…] Our brief from RAST included terms such as flexibility, futureproofing, to create a place that was 'all things to all people and to the unique topographical environments,' for the area to be meaningful, tactile, protective, expansive and robust," they added.
On the south side of the proposed road, the new showground development includes three large pavilions, built in a U shape around a courtyard, and a brand new arena with a track around its perimeter. The extensive precinct of individual buildings is connected by a continuous roof form, and united by an expanse of stained precast concrete and prefinished fibre-cement panels. The architects commented that "touches of weathered metal and reclaimed timber will provide an honest, robust, and simple palette of materials. The varying built-form scales and detail create a rhythm to the concrete, FC sheeting and glazing."
Inside, the three pavilions accommodate a clubhouse, exhibition and function centre, 1500-seat theatre for community meetings and public entertainment, RAST offices, a cafe, a bar, warehouse storage and a backpackers' hostel. These internal functions are complemented by several outdoor recreation areas, sports grounds and a central plaza for up to 100 market stalls. The plans currently on exhibition include a temporary motorhome park to the north, in the location of the future medium-density housing development.
Gadd said that while the showground application has been back and forth with council for 18 months, RAST "don't anticipate too many problems with that," given that no change to the site's permitted use is proposed. Gadd anticipated approval early 2025 and hoped to start construction of the showground development in March.
A second development application for the site's medium density housing is currently held up in planning due to concerns on the potential impacts to surrounding road network. Gadd noted, "We're working with the state government to resolve before we put that forward." Rogers and Henderson noted that the rezoning of the northern portion of the site for housing "is targeted to be completed in late 2025." BPSM's concept plans for this residential component propose up to 493 dwellings in buildings ranging between three and six storeys in height.
Speaking on behalf of the RAST, Gadd said, "Our model is to use commercial income to subsidise community use. We have commercial tenants and operations, and the money we generate from that goes into supporting various clubs and community groups to use our site."
Rogers and Henderson observed that "BPSM Architects share RAST's vision […] [of] a future where the precinct can be used by the wider community: cultural, business, agricultural and sporting; adapt quickly to changing needs now and into the future; and that the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania will continue for another 200 years with a beloved community asset."
The showground plans are on exhibition with Glenorchy City Council until 3 January 2025.
