Hobart’s waterfront is increasingly becoming a puzzling site, filled with ice-skating rinks, plastic penguins, swarms of car-parking spaces and soon, a replica of an Antarctica hut.
On the 18th of May, the local newspaper, The Mercury, confirmed that $822,000 would be spent on the restoration of Mawson’s Hut – an unused heritage listed building in Antarctica that was the living area for the explorer and geologist Douglas Mawson. $350,000 of the larger sum will reportedly go towards building an ‘authentic’ replica of the Hut, which will be situated opposite ‘Mawson’s Place’ and adjacent to ‘Mawson’s Skate’, in the wharf area of Hobart.
In 2009, Hobart City Council appointed the previously mentioned urban planner Jan Gehl and a team of architects, to conduct a study of ways to improve Hobart’s public space. Gehl emphasised the importance of utilising and strengthening the waterfront as a place for people. This advice followed similar plans that were submitted as part of an international architecture competition to ‘generate ideas’ regarding the design of the waterfront.
Of the 230 recommendations made in the Gehl Report, 215 were disposed of, while 15 of these were added to the ‘Inner City Action Plan’. To date, only one of these 15 recommendations has been completed.
At the same time, two rather questionable urban projects have been given the green light: that of the Mawson’s Hut replica and Mawson’s Skate. The synthetic ice-skating rink that makes up Mawson’s Skate, appears significantly underused, whilst the facilities are still being maintained daily by staff members.
Heritage Minister Tony Burke assured people that the Mawson’s Hut replica would be a ‘major tourist attraction’. I do however, recall similar being said of Mawson’s Skate. Tourism entrepreneur Richard Crawford extended Burke’s sentiment claiming the Hut would attract ‘more people to Hobart’. This shows nothing but disillusionment as to why people come to Tasmania.
What compels us to negate actual urban rejuvenation projects guided by internationally recognised urban designers, in favour for constructing Antarctic replicas 2800 kilometres from their original site? What relevance do they have to invigorating life and activity at the waterfront? The site of the Hut replica is one of the few green spaces along the waterfront. Whilst we are filling this with irrelevant ‘historical’ development, Tasmania’s Premier Lara Giddings is investing $100 million to remove the building of 10 Murray Street in order to build a public precinct. One can’t help but feel that with greater cohesive and holistic planning we could get a whole lot more value for our buck.
Alasdair Doyle is co-director of a new online publication, The Flaneur. The Flaneur ( http://www.the-flaneur.com/ ) explores, considers and raises awareness of urban design and planning in Hobart and surrounding areas.
• Urbanista Robusta, in Comments: #2 Which reminds me … htf did the demolition of that wondrous old building on the corner of argyle and whatsit street which used to house men’s gallery sneak through with barely a whimper??? the old tassie story of powerful money and mates i reckon … and for a bloody carpark … as if we haven’t got enough of the stone-age things. when are we going to leave the 1950s … ???
• Chloe, in Comments: FYI #5 there were 60+ representations made to the HCC against the demolition of the men’s gallery building however the aldermen decided to go against the recommendations of their officers & to ignore the representations. Until its recent demolition the C1837 structure was not ‘badly compromised’ but instead substantially intact.
• April Krause, in Comments: Regarding comments #3, 5 and 6, another factor to consider is the buildings next to the demolished Men’s Gallery. These building were a good example of mixed uses – residential, retail and other uses – which is an important factor in good urban design. It is unfortunate that the area is now going to be void of social interactions and be unnecessarily replaced by space-deadening car parks. If you are interested, please read another article in The Flâneur by Alasdair Doyle in relation to this: http://www.the-flaneur.com/2013/06/ali-sultan-and-i-by-alasdair-doyle_14.html April Krause, co-director, The Flâneur, www.the-flaneur.com
