Tassie Market Watch - August 2026 - The Hobart / Launceston Magazine

Tassie Market Watch – August 2026

by Stephanie Williams

LINDA PUB FOR SALE

The Linda Pub – or what’s left of it – is for sale. The pub, near Queenstown, hasn’t operated for 74 years and is now a concrete shell. The hotel and adjacent cafe and residence are up for grabs for offers over $300,000. The hotel in the once bustling mining town was built as a weatherboard in 1901 but burnt down nine years later. The exterior was rebuilt using concrete, which remains today despite all interiors having been removed long ago. By the 1930s, Linda had been almost completely deserted. A few years ago a new owner came from the mainland, operating the cafe for a while, but as of a year and a half ago the cafe has been closed. Linda is now technically part of Gormanston, which recorded a population of just 32 people in the last census in 2021.

KINGSTON’S MORTGAGE STRESS SEES BIGGEST JUMP

Kingston homeowners have seen the biggest jump in mortgage stress of any postcode in the country in the last quarter. The number of stressed households went from 525 to 2,123 (a rise of 304%) in just three months according to a report from Digital Finance Analytics for OurTop10. OurTop10 director Mansour Soltani said the Kingston result stood out nationally.

“When the number of households in mortgage stress more than quadruples in a single quarter, it tells us financial pressure is building much faster than household budgets can adjust,” he said. “Tasmania has traditionally been viewed as one of Australia’s more affordable housing markets, but affordability only protects borrowers up to a point.

“Higher mortgage repayments, rising living costs and larger home loans are combining to place increasing pressure on households.” Across Tasmanian’s 10 hardest-hit postcodes, nine have recorded worsening levels of mortgage stress. New Norfolk recorded Tasmania’s second-largest increase after Kingston at 33%, followed by Newnham at 18%.

GLENORCHY MUNICIPALITY RANKS NUMBER ONE

Glenorchy has topped a list of Australian municipalities when it comes to strong property performance. Launceston came in second, Meander Valley came in fourth, George Town at fifth and Devonport seventh. “The [Glenorchy] market recorded 22 per cent growth in sales, when it took an average of 23 days to sell a home,” the McGrath Local Residential Index Winter/26 report said. “During this time, prices grew 15.2 per cent and weekly rents were 9.9 per cent higher, taking the gross rental yield to 4.67 per cent.”

PROPERTY LENS

21 Danbury Drive, Legana

Indicative price: Offers over $1.45m

Agent: Jane Crawford, Belle Property Launceston

34 Schell Street, Rossarden

Indicative price: Offers over $280,000

Agent: Bec Gardner, The Agency Northern Tasmania

151 Irby Boulevard, Sisters Beach

Indicative price: $1,790,000

Agent: Selina Elphinstone, Harcourts Burnie

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Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

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Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

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Stay up to date with everything happening at the Hobart Magazine.

Worker shortage is currently universal, there isn’t an industry that’s exempt. For Kelvin Smith, four years ago he decided there was a very obvious solution to the shortage facing the construction industry, and all that was needed was a little time, empathy and a helping hand. Integrate Workforce is a Hobart-based labour company with one requirement: a refugee/ migrant background. He’s also the outdoor piano man in his free time.

Landscape artist and creative Elliott Nimmo is enjoying discovering Hobart’s vibrant art scene and local environment after relocating here from London to pursue his art.

Even though Tasmania is known for its mild summers, it doesn’t take much to get sunburnt. Tasmania experiences extreme ultraviolet (UV) levels, but contrary to popular belief this isn’t due to the hole in the ozone layer, which is actually south of the continent.While higher UV levels often occur at the same time as higher temperatures, the two are not linked. Instead, UV levels are determined by the angle of the sun in the sky: the higher the sun, the higher the UV. In December and January, the position of the sun over Tasmania gives the state a UV index of 11 or more on most days, which is classified as “extreme” on the UV index. Tasmania’s lack of humidity and generally clear skies contribute to the stinging feeling of the sun. UV can reflect off buildings and water, making it possible to get a higher dose of UV from these reflected rays, even in the shade.

Setting up shop during a pandemic was a risky move, but if the crowd at Dāna Eating House (Dāna) on a Friday night is anything to go by, it’s one that’s paid off. With tables of diners chatting and laughing over drinks, the music and conversation buzzes off the monstera-leaf-green walls. Low-hanging rattan lights and worn wooden floorboards give the newly opened South-East Asian fusion venue in Hobart’s CBD a relaxed vibe.

A Holyman flagged ship hasn’t steamed up the River Derwent since 1984 but the company’s name still proudly adorns its former offices at 5 Morrison Street, Hobart.

Widening the Tasman Bridge to allow 3.5 metres on each side is a big win for walkers and cyclists.

Need a laugh? Check out @theinspiredunemployed feed on Instagram.

Rain, hail and shine, the school crossing guards are always there to help with a smile on their face.

It’s hard to believe it’s not standard practice to have a working phone in every aged care room - shared phones make private conversations impossible and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Just when you think your cousins are alright. NZ Opposition Leader Judith Collins took aim at Tassie during her recent (unsuccessful) campaign, calling us Australia’s “poor cousin.” She also seems worried about us nabbing tech businesses, “It’s a lovely part of the world but do you necessarily want to go there with your high- tech business? Possibly not,” she said. We beg to differ!