The Tasmanian Government has again slated the Treasury Buildings, Hobart for sale. Long-term heritage advocate, Chris Merridew believes that the depressed world economy will lead to a less-than-optimal price being achieved for this important public asset.
Chris Merridew: Treasury the Seven Year Itch
Seven years ago to the day since I first wrote to challenge Premier Peter Gutwein’s announcement of his intention to call for Expressions of Interest for the disposal of the Treasury Buildings as he deemed them not fit purpose as appropriate offices for State Treasury officers.
Seven days ago, our newly minted Treasurer, the very experienced Minister Guy Barnett, now also our Deputy Premier, launched more of the same.
Nothing has changed those seven individual Georgian sandstone Treasury Buildings, including the Executive Buildings which have served continuously as the home of Administration of Tasmania in part for 200 years, are in the eyes of the public theirs and therefore “Not for Sale“. Unlikely this Government nor as did Peter Gutwein’s and some other past Treasurers with similar aspirations of cashing in our heritage will succeed.
Nothing is likely to change in the Internationally sought EOI process except that those submitting new submissions covering their dramatically complicated developments no doubt spectacular but at gigantic cost, within the seven Buildings will find that the cost of construction, as we all know has doubled since COVID 2020 at which point the previous 2018 EOI process was abandoned.
The Government should consider Treasury continuing to occupy as opposed to leasing commercially 3,500 square metres of equivalent floor space, for which Treasury had sought in 2019 a fit out estimate heading towards $3M plus relocating expenses. So by staying put, our Treasury Officers who appreciate the central city location of being practically very close to the Executive Building and Salamanca Tower, would be saving a commercial rent of $2M each and every year that might well be spent on adjusting the interiors to be fit for purpose plus a regular budget allocation towards maintaining the People of Tasmania’s priceless asset. As it is said, ‘maintain the family farm but never sell it’.
So, what is it of which we are the custodians? The finest collection of Government Buildings purpose built to administer the island colony which were at their time the largest and grandest administrative assembly in Australia. The fact that they are still intact as such is an indication of the importance they hold with Tasmanians and recently emphasised by that 68% of our visitors who come to Tasmania are here to enjoy our built heritage. These magnificent 7 contribute immensely with their commanding presence by which they stand central to the best examples of Georgian architecture outside Great Britain. Flanked by the heritage precincts of Davey, Murray and Macquarie Streets bordering Franklin Square continuing past the Town Hall the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery to the 1824 Bond Store into which Spirits were unloaded from sailing ships berthed alongside the TMAG courtyard, they command heritage streetscapes that no city in Australia can match.
Being continuously occupied by government officers has contributed to their well-preserved fabric. Equally the stunning interiors extending from the Executive Council Chamber, with ceilings to match Government House, Australia’s oldest Supreme Court, the Marble vestibule of Remembrance linked by connecting corridors of working offices, 75 with fireplaces behind some 125 doors of blackwood or cedar depending on the period or the building’s designed function.
Treasury officers have gone to great care when making internal changes (not a sign of kilometres of computer cabling) with protecting the classic ceilings cornices and skirtings. Beneath are basements of various reputes – several barred cells, the cell for the condemned, a caretaker’s flat, an enormous arched chamber built for archives plus the Deeds building with fireproof 60cm walls and floors. All 7 buildings have their own unique heritage features which are of course a heritage consideration for any development.
So where to next? It depends on Treasury and Minister Barnett as to what remains deemed a secure area for Treasury function and if it can be mixed to give him the public access he desires as to which areas he may grant access. A likely starter is guided tours of the stunning interior Executive Building including the office where Inglis Clark wrote the Australian Constitution.
Over the last seven days Hobart hosted some 17,000 ship-borne visitors. The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, which is most competently run by the HCC could well be relocated from their very busy Davey Street Office to the original Tasmanian Tourist Bureau Offices opposite St David’s Cathedral, to become the spacious 21st Century information point that showcases all that Tasmania can offer to the 245,000 fellow passengers who will come ashore for only a day this season. Alex Heroys, CEO of Destination Southern Tasmania, recently wrote “many cruise ship visitors do return, many in larger family groups to self-drive their next holiday.”
The Royal Society of Tasmania which founded the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is again the custodian of some 900 paintings by early Tasmanian artists that might well hang in the public areas on a perpetual rotational basis, a different exhibition each season.
Even the hidden courtyard with a lot of imagination has the potential for outdoor expression.
The possibilities are limited by how much and which spaces Treasury can spare whilst still operating within those magnificent 7 but through retaining in public ownership our Treasury Buildings will give a far greater perpetual return on their uniqueness.
Chris Merridew
Key Proponent to keep in the Treasury Buildings in Public Hands
Past Councillor to the National Trust of Tasmania
A version of this article was published in the Hobart Mercury 21 November 2024
