Hobart’s night-time economy has grown over the past 15 years, with a new report revealing that more than 200 new venues have opened and turnover has doubled across the sector.
The findings show that around 10% of Hobart’s workforce is now tied to the night-time economy, with Friday nights emerging as the busiest time for local venues.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the sector has also created around 1,200 extra jobs during that time.
“The night-time economy is more vibrant than it used to be and that continues to grow, so we are really thrilled about the results,” Reynolds said.
According to the report, Hobart’s night-time economy now makes up 9% of the city’s overall economy, above the national average of 5%.
Travis Oddie, owner of Lost in Asia and Bar Wa Izakaya, has seen the transformation firsthand over his 16 years in Hobart’s hospitality scene.
“I’ve noticed that the nightlife has been thriving as compared to how it used to be,” he said.
“It’s steadily increased over the course of my career.”
He credited events like Dark Mofo for helping venues get through the traditionally quiet winter months, turning what was once a “very cold, dark period for hospitality” into a year-round opportunity.
“Many years ago Tasmania used to be the butt of many mainland jokes. But now it’s a very highly sought after place to come,” he said.
Despite the growth, Oddie said the industry still faces challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges that we do face is the retention of good staff and finding the good staff as well, specifically since Covid,” Oddie said. “A lot of talented hospitality members decided to retrain.”
Reynolds said the vision for a thriving city includes “residents and restaurants and nightlife” co-existing in the same areas.
“Hobart’s got a great, vibrant nighttime economy doing really well compared to everywhere else in Tassie and doing well even right around the country,” she said.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t do more and think about other ways to ensure that that vibrancy continues.”
The Hobart City Council plans to hold a roundtable with industry leaders in the coming months to find extra ways to support ongoing growth.
The report is part of a national study by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors.
