A heritage Hobart hotel is set for a dramatic transformation, with plans lodged for a $30 million extension that would more than quadruple its accommodation capacity.
The Moss Hotel, tucked behind Salamanca Place in Battery Point, could expand from 20 rooms to 89 under a redevelopment proposal submitted to the Hobart City Council.
The centrepiece of the project is a four-storey wing rising up to 17 metres along Montpelier Retreat, where two vacant commercial buildings would be demolished to make way for the new addition.
Plans show the proposed height would exceed the area’s 12-metre planning controls, which aim to preserve the precinct’s 19th-century character.
Heritage consultants Lovell Chen, engaged by the developers, have defended the design as being in harmony with its historic surroundings.
“… The new addition is well articulated to prevent its presentation as a single monolithic structure and it adopts a stepped form with increasing setbacks in respect of the topography of the site,” planning documents state.
“When viewed from the north, from Salamanca Place and beyond, the new addition will present as a backdrop element rising with the alignment of the quarry site.”
The design, featuring stone cladding and decorative tiling, draws inspiration from the area’s Georgian sandstone warehouses while remaining “clearly contemporary”.
“The addition will present as a juxtaposition with the heritage buildings, but does not intrude or compromise the heritage value of the retained buildings within the streetscape,” the documents state.
Heritage-listed buildings at 4 Montpelier Retreat and 41 Salamanca Place would be retained and incorporated into the redevelopment.
The Georgian sandstone structure at number 4 would keep its street-facing façade, southern wall and distinctive brick chimney intact.
The expansion would also bring a cafe, bar and function room to the ground level, along with 13 basement car parks accessed from Montpelier Retreat.
Traffic consultants Pitt & Sherry found the hotel would generate around 41 vehicle trips during peak periods.
“The traffic volumes generated by the development are low when compared to the existing traffic volumes on the road network,” the assessment found.
The two buildings earmarked for demolition at 6 and 8 Montpelier Retreat are not heritage-listed.
The proposal will go before councillors for a decision following a period of public consultation.
