The Hobart City Council has signed off on plans to transform a Masonic lodge into a 51-room hotel on Sandy Bay Road.
The project will largely preserve the lodge near the Davey Street intersection, while a new 51-metre hotel tower will be constructed above the existing building.
Features include a rooftop bar, with the development pitched as part of the solution to Hobart’s accommodation shortage.
It will house 36 hotel units, including 29 one-bedroom units, five two-bedroom units two three-bedroom units.
“I’ve been into this building a few times over the years … it’s quite an interesting building,” Councillor Bill Harvey said during Tuesday night’s planning meeting.
“I can see the need to really protect that … These sort of buildings need to be retained, but to be able to function as something else into the future.”
Most of the lodge’s original interior and roof structure will remain, although some minor sections will be demolished to make way for lifts and modern services.
Councillor Ryan Posselt said the project would help meet strong tourism demand.
“We know that Hobart needs about 2,500 more hotel beds to support the visitor economy,” Posselt said.
“Every hotel bed that we bring to this city is less pressure on the residential segment being turned into Airbnbs.”
Approval came despite objections from neighbouring unit owners concerned about noise from the rooftop beer garden and traffic in the side laneway.
Council set conditions including heritage safeguards, guest parking management and operating restrictions.
The rooftop bar must close by midnight and music is limited to indoor areas.
