Old shore precinc

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DeBOX_DeGRID Architecture
M. John Latham 03 6265 1420 urbarc@austar.net.au PO Box 54 SORELL 7172 © Copyright M J Latham 2004 (distribution copies okay)
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H O B A R T W A T E R F R O N T P L A N S
PROPOSAL - T h e O l d S h o r e P r e c i n c t
UPDATED 29.01.04
The Old Shore Public Landscape and Cultural Heritage Precinct;
 Would Include;
Franklin Square, the bottoms of Elizabeth, Argyle & Campbell Streets, the rear of the Town Hall, HCC’s
Morrison/Argyle/Davey property, Mawson Place, Marine Board Building site, space between Davey Street & the old
Secretary’s Cottage, Dunn Street site, Grand Chancellor frontage and out to Hunter Island.
 Would Enhance;
Local education and identity of place (the continuum from beyond human history to the contemporary).
 Would Establish;
o A precinct that crosses and transcends Davey Street and is a clear central threshold transition and
interest between the Outer CBD and the Waterfront.
o An urban/natural presence of public place that is strong enough to carry a fair degree of the
traditionally fickle designs of private developments.
o A tourist fascination to challenge Port Arthur.
 Would Re-establish;
The perceptive psychology of direct open air link and breadth of access down the Elizabeth embankment
to the river and beyond.
In particular this will enhance;
o The central and historic pedestrian approach
to and from the Waterfront.
o Interpretation
of the site, nature and locational logistics of the original British encampment, the ensuing
buildings and the seeding of Elizabeth Street.
o Outlook
from Franklin Square, the rear of the Town Hall, other buildings (including the TMAG Annex if
modified, HEC Building [potential hotel]) and conversely from the water and docks toward the
city.
In addition the endemic link to Mount Wellington, the Domain, Rosny Point and South Arm will be
enhanced. Thus reintroducing some strength of presence of the broader landscape and river banks.
 Would Diminish;
The “Davey Street barrier” concept.
The public psychology of this “barrier” is worst where the pedestrian is most detracted from her
perception of the approached amenity of the Cove, by the loud announcement of “barrier”. This worst

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DeBOX_DeGRID Architecture
M. John Latham 03 6265 1420 urbarc@austar.net.au PO Box 54 SORELL 7172 © Copyright M J Latham 2004 (distribution copies okay)
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place is the crossing at the Elizabeth western footpath. As in the other places that announce the “barrier”,
street-furniture design can subdue the announcement. Pedestrian comforts, screening, distractions, &
focus controls play down the bitumen expanses, close noisy vehicles and other detractions whilst playing
up simple comfort & the beckoning and anticipation of the Cove amenity being approached. The designs
would in effect be marketing with appropriate packaging and salesmanship. Note how the HCC Art Deco
building at pedestrian level discourages crossing with a cold hard face, an anomaly in the stroll to the
Cove past sandstone and garden. It’s more fun to cross in the return direction, despite the uphill. Why is
the “barrier” issue milder at the Campbell Street crossing? There are logical design tricks to significantly
reduce the “barrier” perception from both sides of the road. The making of a prominent transition by
defining the old shorescape is one – hereby denying the concept that Davey Street is the transition. Using
street designs is another.
 Would Indicate;
o The Original Shorescape
of the area as a landscape complement to the built ‘Wall of the Cove’ and as a contribution to the
diminution of the “Davey Street barrier” concept. This would be done by some reinstatement of
endemic trees (and footpath pergolas and other design devices) at Hunter Island, Grand
Chancellor (Davey/Campbell), mid-(modified) Campbell Street, Dunn Street Site, at the old
TMAG entrance and Macquarie corner, part of the Town Hall Argyle garden, part of the rear of
the Town Hall, mid Elizabeth Street, the Davey Street corner of Franklin Square and mid Davey
Street. Adjustment of some relatively minor priority conventions will be necessary (as always
when innovation is truly progress).
o The urban placeTransition between the Cove and the Outer CBD
– moving through a glade of casuarinas, wattles, gums, sculpture/pavings, pergolas. This
transition also modifies our visual perceptual psychology and thus the impact of the Davey
crossing. This perspective will be further enhanced with design cues that relate the ‘floor of the
new precinct’ to the embankment such as coordinated street furnishings and paving.
 Would Provide a supportive context;
o For Thematic Commerce
such as ‘The First Jetty Café’ and the ‘Wading Bird Gallery’ in Council’s waterfront buildings,
‘Settlement Museum and The Rooftop First Tent Tea Rooms’ at rear of Town Hall. ‘Nibbaloona
Sandflats & Causeway Garden’ at the Grand Chancellor. Whole of precinct tourist commerce and
spin-off to the greater Cove and the CBD – including indication of first convict camp near
Elizabeth Mall and its relationship to Port Arthur inmates.
o For Vitalising Public Places
such as a Franklin Square viewing deck, relating also to a small landscaped interpretation site
(and potential new building with decks) at the Town Hall, which in turn, by design, relates to
Mawson Place and a new water-plaza at the bottom (beginning) of Elizabeth Street. Small and
large native tree-sheltered seatings with interpretive sculptures and pavings at Argyle, Campbell
and Hunter Streets strictly limited to endemic locations. A precinctually appropriate Cultural
Centre at the Dunn Street Site that relates to the original rivulet landscape rather than the street
grid. A huge encouragement for highlighting Hunter Island as the umbilical of Hobart. A huge
plus for giving the bottom end of Elizabeth Street and Elizabeth Pier their non-‘brownboxed’ due.

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DeBOX_DeGRID Architecture
M. John Latham 03 6265 1420 urbarc@austar.net.au PO Box 54 SORELL 7172 © Copyright M J Latham 2004 (distribution copies okay)
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 Would Cost
Including new plantings, space-making and view fundamentals, minimum necessary public
placemaking installations and pavings, associated developmental public relations including
underpinning precinctual character development and an opening ceremony ( ie the creation of a unique
place to challenge Port Arthur);
Say $25 million,
excluding new buildings but including removal of the big brown box (This removal will seriously lift
the profile, air calm and opportunity of the adjacent heritage buildings and provide a ready-made hole
for a water feature. It will also enhance the view, among others, as one enters the Waterfront by Davey
Street and from Hunter Street.) From ocal, State and National funds.
NOTE: This proposal is a preliminary notion that must be subjected to stakeholder, detail and specialist
analysis and confirmations.
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THANKS MJL 26.1.04