The Hobart Town Hotel (87 Macquarie Street, Hobart), the ex-Tom McHugos space, has undergone a transformation. The historic 1851 pub is up and trading again, serving local beer and wine, meals, and good times. And it’s not the only old Macquarie Street pub with a new ‘lease’ on life. Hobart Brewing Co has taken over one of Australia’s oldest pubs, the Hope and Anchor (65 Macquarie Street, Hobart). Licensed since 1807, this’ll be another step in its storied history. Open now – expect classic pub vibes and food, with Hobart Brewing Co’s range of beers. Locally owned and utilising rare traditional brewing techniques, The Albert Brewery (73-75 Albert Road, Moonah) is a worthy visit for beer fans. This month, their Taproom is opening a beer garden with short mat bowls, kids’ outdoor area, and fire pits. To get your protein smoothie and energy tea fix, give Shine Shoreline (Shop 12, 6 Shoreline Drive, Howrah) a go at Shoreline Plaza. This is their first Hobart shop after already cementing themselves in Launceston. They serve colourful drinks that are all about energy and hydration, from green tea and aloe vera to indulgent Biscoff protein smoothies.

The historic town of Richmond has a brand new place for breakfast and lunch in Richmond Cafe and Providore (27 Bridge Street, Richmond). On weekends, they stay open in the evenings for a special seafood dinner.

Kawandining Launceston (138 Charles Street, Launceston) is a new Southeast Asian restaurant in the CBD. “Kawan” means “friend”, and this restaurant aims to be suitably warm and welcoming. Plus, kids meals are free on Mondays. It’s official: the highly anticipated Hobart Lego Store (38 Elizabeth Street, Hobart) will be taking the space formerly occupied by Rivers. Sitting on the corner of Elizabeth and Collins Streets in Hobart’s CBD, there’ll be heaps of foot traffic and nervous wallets. The Hobart Bike Kitchen workshop at the South Hobart Tip Shop has finally reopened. The not-for-profit co-op offers a ‘do it yourself’ workshop and education space, where volunteers will teach you how to fix and service your bike or make a new bike with spare parts. Menswear store Neil Pitt’s (70 Brisbane Street, Launceston) have left their space in The Majestic Theatre, which they’ve held since the 1970s, and have moved to the Old Brisbane Arcade.

FREE BREAKFAST ROLL OUT IN ALL TASSIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
All children in state government schools will soon have access to free breakfast thanks to a $6.5 million School Breakfast Program. The program expands on Variety Tasmania’s existing breakfast service, which operates in 40 schools across the state. When fully implemented, the program will be available for up to 50,000 students in all government schools over the next three years, with the first phase expected to begin in early 2026. This will be a relief for many families. All kids can enjoy toast, fruit, and a drink in either a dedicated space or delivered to their classroom, depending on how the school chooses to operate. There are all sorts of reasons kids miss out on breakfast or are hungry at school, whether it’s due to a household’s finances, having to rush out the door, or having to travel a long distance and become hungry again. Variety reports that a hungry student can lose one and a half to two hours a day of learning due to disengaging.

HOBART, THE LAND OF CREAKY JOINTS
Hey old timers, Hobart recently overtook Adelaide as Australia’s oldest capital city. This was revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), who reported that Hobart’s new median age of 39.3 years edged ahead of Adelaide’s 39.2 years, swapping positions for the first time since 2020. Also, Hobart is now the capital where women outnumber men the most. Sex ratio is the measure of the number of males for every 100 females, and Hobart is at 95.2.

TASSIE BUSES GOING ELECTRIC AND HYDRONIC
Hobart and Launceston have some new energy efficient buses roaming around. Part of Metro’s Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Trial, there are three Hydrogen Electric Buses (HEB) operating routes in Hobart, and four Battery Electric Buses (BEB) in Launceston. The trials are gathering data to see what an energy-efficient future could look like for public transport in Tasmania, and will run for two years. The buses are labelled on the sides so you’ll know when you’re on one. And apparently you feel the difference as the buses run quieter. The hydrogen buses run on locally produced hydrogen, while the battery vehicles are fuelled by on-board batteries – neither produce exhaust or greenhouse gas emissions. The project is backed by state government funding to help hit their net zero emissions by 2030 goal.

LESS LITTER, HAPPY PLATY
It’s a good time to be a Hobart platypus. A huge litter and pollutant trap has been installed near the McRobies Gully tip to protect the health of the Hobart Rivulet and the platypus who call the waters home. The underground concrete chamber below the tip face captures litter before it finds its way into the rivulet. It’s made up of three cylinders and one diversion chamber, weighing collectively just under 45 tonnes, and capable of holding nearly 10 cubic metres of litter.

PHONES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS
Soon there will be a secure way to donate mobile phones to go directly to domestic violence survivors. Secure collection boxes for donated mobile phones will be placed at four council sites across town after councillors voted in favour of the plan. Hobart City Council is partnering with national charity DV Safe Phone, which refurbishes old phones and distributes them for free through women’s refuges, police stations and other support services. Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock put forward the motion, saying it would help people whose phones had been destroyed or monitored by perpetrators, cutting them off from vital support networks. Each safe phone kit comes with a device, charger, starter SIM and initial credit. Collection boxes will soon be available at the Customer Service Centre, Town Hall, Mathers House and YouthARC.

THINK YOU’RE A QUIZ WHIZ? TEST YOUR BRAINS FOR CHARITY
Love trivia AND helping others? The Rotary Satellite Club of Sandy Bay, Battery Point has you sorted with their upcoming Quiz Night Fundraiser. On Wednesday 22 October, they’re hosting a quiz at Shambles Brewery (222 Elizabeth Street, Hobart). It’s the club’s first major fundraiser, and all proceeds will support two important causes. First is Dress for Success Tasmania – empowering women to achieve economic independence through professional attire, support, and development programs. And second is the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia – funding research and providing support services for families affected by prostate cancer. On the night there will also be raffles, auctions, prizes, and food and drinks available to purchase. Doors open at 6pm, quiz starts at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20 per person or $150 for a table of eight. For more information, or to register contact our event coordinator Koreena on 0424 362 411.

HOBART PLANT PARENTS PROTECTING ALPINE FLORA
Hobart green thumbs are helping to protect Tasmania’s alpine forests from climate change thanks to a new initiative called Backyard Biobanking by The Gondwana Project. Those who take part are creating a city-based ‘biobank’ of rare and iconic Tasmanian tree species. It was kicked into action when Harry Lush, Director at The Gondwana Project, gave away hundreds of plants at a Hobart Brewing Co. event in August, then again in September. People took home one free alpine tree from a collection of rare and iconic species including pencil pines, King Billy pines, myrtle beeches and Huon pines. The project was made possible by the Youth Climate Action Fund. “The core aim of our Backyard Biobanking project is to create an urban refuge for threatened alpine trees and plants of Tasmania’s mountains and rainforests,” Harry said. “We want to enlist Hobart gardeners in the care of these plants so that in times of need we can call on them to donate seeds, cuttings or samples for research or to help reforest wilderness areas scorched by climate induced wildfires.” As well as picking up a free alpine tree people can learn how to care for them. Head to The Gondwana Project’s Facebook page or website at www.thegondwanaproject.org to learn more.

FREE VET CARE FOR THOSE AT RISK
Vet visits can be expensive, putting people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in a difficult position if they have an animal companion they need help with. That’s where Pets in the Park comes in. They’re a national charity that operates free monthly pop-up veterinary clinics in Hobart and Launceston. In Hobart, they’re held at Mathers House on the first Saturday of every month from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. In Launceston, they take place at Gateway Baptist Church on the third Sunday of every month from 2pm to 3:30pm.

30 MILLION CONTAINERS AND COUNTING
We’ve reached a milestone in the container deposit scheme: Tasmanians have returned over 30 million containers since Recycle Rewards was launched on 1 May. One million were returned within the first four days. Devonport is currently Tasmania’s number one refund spot, followed by Claremont and Cove Hill in the south and Mowbray and Meadow Mews in the north.

NEW WEBSITE HELPS HOBART PARKING STRESS
Ever been stressed out trying to find a car park in Hobart? Many have. Hopefully, worrying whether you’ll get a park or not in the city will be a thing of the past thanks to a brand new live parking map showing real-time availability across the city. Park My Ride shows availability across nearly 2,000 on-street parks and multi-storey car parks. It updates every 15 seconds, and includes over 40 accessible bays. It also shows how long you stay in each park. Access it at www.parkmyride.au. Remember to not use your phone while driving – plan ahead or ask a passenger to check.

POLICE ARE CLAMPING DOWN ON DANGEROUS DRIVING
Hooners and dangerous drivers, along with putting lives at risk, are setting themselves up for a clamping. In an effort to increase road safety, Tasmania Police have rolled out new wheel clamps across the state. The clamps are specialised locking devices that fit to a vehicle’s steering wheel, preventing driving. Southern Road Policing Services Acting Inspector Rebecca Sulman said the use of wheel clamps ensures that drivers caught driving in a reckless or dangerous manner can face immediate karma for their actions. “If police choose, vehicles can be clamped then and there on the side of the road,” she said. In 2024-25, Tasmania Police clamped 175 vehicles, including 60 that were clamped specifically for the offence of hooning. More than 100 of those drivers had their vehicles clamped for 28 days. 21 cars were clamped for nine months due to more serious offending, while 19 were clamped indefinitely. Other offences that warranted a clamping included three for dangerous and reckless driving, 23 for disqualified driving, 49 for non-aggravated police evasion, 22 for aggravated police evasion, and 16 for speeding in excess of 45km/h. Tas Police data shows a 22 percent increase in the number of traffic offenders caught in the most recent financial year, compared with the previous year. If you see hooning or dangerous driving, report it to police on 131 444 or triple zero (000) if there is an emergency or life-threatening situation.

BETTER OUTCOMES FOR BURNIE YOUTH
Burnie’s first Youth2Independence (Y2I) facility has opened, providing affordable supported accommodation to help young people facing major challenges to create their own future. The facility can support up to 26 people. The Y2I program is supported by Homes Tasmania, whose CEO Eleri Morgan-Thomas said young people can be particularly vulnerable to homelessness as they move towards adulthood. “Family violence and family breakdown are the leading causes of youth homelessness that cause significant harm, and they disrupt education, the transition to employment and the development of life skills and social networks,” she said. “Evidence shows that young people facing homelessness can change their lives if they have accommodation, support and access to education and employment.” The Burnie site is Y2I’s fifth facility for the state, with the others in Launceston, Devonport, and two in Hobart. “In the last year, 83 per cent of young people in the Y2I program achieved an employment outcome during their stay,” Ms Morgan-Thomas said.

LOUI’S VAN VOLLIES NEEDED
Loui’s Van, the St Vincent de Paul Society’s food relief outreach vehicle, is on the lookout for new volunteers to join the team as they relocate to their new home in Glenorchy in the coming months. The van is run by dedicated volunteers four days a week, providing food and company to those in need. If you have the time to help out, email volunteer@vinniestas.org.au or buzz 6234 4244.

SPRINGTIME WHALE WATCHING WITH DR VIRGINIA ANDREWS-GOFF
Spring is one of the best times of the year to see migratory whales passing Tasmania, so we reached out to Dr Virginia Andrews-Goff, a marine mammal research scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division, to learn more.

Tell us a bit about what you do.
I specialise in cetacean movement ecology. This basically means I spend time understanding whale movement, generally via a combination of satellite tags and spatial analyses and often relative to characteristics of the environment and overlap with threats.

Which whales pass through Tasmania in spring?
In spring, humpback whales are migrating southwards towards Antarctica where they will spend the austral summer gorging themselves on krill. Some hang around off the coast of Tassie for weeks (some for months), snacking on small fish and coastal krill along the way. There are lots of mother-calf pairs and those humpback young are particularly acrobatic and fun to watch.

Where’s your favourite place in Tasmania for whale spotting?
The Tasman Peninsula is a fabulous spot to see humpback whales migrating south, especially around October and November. Obviously, getting out on the water is ideal but you can easily spot blows from shore looking out to sea from Eaglehawk Neck. If you happen to get on the water and have a camera handy, the underside of the whale tail (fluke) is unique to each humpback whale and is a great way to understand how humpbacks are using our waterways. Be sure to lodge any fluke photos with the Tasmanian Whale Fluke Project at www.facebook.com/Tasmanian.fluke.project.

What’s something you wish more people knew about whales?
Australia’s humpback whales are one the greatest conservation success stories. Since the International Whaling Commission banned whaling, our humpback whales have recovered at a rate that is about as fast as is biologically plausible. However, other species haven’t rebounded so well. After initially showing positive signs of recovery, the productivity of Australia’s southern right whale population off south west Australia has plateaued and may be declining and we still only have a few hundred southern right whales that visit Australia’s south east.

What are you working on at the moment?
I am focused on developing a pneumatic drone-based platform to biopsy sample and satellite tag large whales. A drone-based system would offer a safer, more efficient way of working on whales in challenging environments, like the Southern Ocean. I am also working on satellite tag derived movements of southern right whales. These amazing, endangered whales visit our shores during the winter, sometimes with a calf in tow. When they’re not here, they move through a huge area across the Southern Ocean undertaking a roughly circular migration from east to west (and back again).

NEW WEEDS INFESTING WEST COAST
A recent trip to Queenstown saw the Parks and Wildlife Service Biosecurity team, the Tasmanian Herbarium, Biosecurity Tasmania, and local rangers carry out weed mapping and surveys to gain a clearer picture of the current extent of weed spread. During the survey, five new and emerging weed species were identified on the West Coast. One of these, Lawson’s Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), was confirmed as being established in Tasmania for the first time. PWS Biosecurity Coordinator Phil Mehlert said this highlights the importance of working together to monitor these emerging threats, responding quickly to manage them, and raising public awareness to help minimise their impact on the west coast.

TASMANIAN DROWNINGS DECLINE AMID NATIONAL RISE
The 2025 National Drowning Report from Royal Life Saving Australia has been released, revealing Tasmania as one of only two states to show improvement, with an 11 percent decrease on its 10-year average. There were eight drowning deaths recorded in Tasmania over the past year. Almost two-thirds involved people aged 55 and over, the majority occurred in rivers and creeks, and 88 percent of victims were male. Nationally, 357 drowning deaths were reported in the past 12 months, which is a 27 percent increase on the 10-year average. The highest rates were among people aged 75 and older. The report also highlights ongoing inequities in drowning rates, with deaths twice as likely among people in the most disadvantaged areas, and nearly three times more likely in regional and remote communities compared to major cities. Royal Life Saving says the findings reflect the consistent and traumatic nature of drowning.

BIG TASSIE WIN AT NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS
Tasmanian tour guide Cat Davidson has won Australia’s Top Tour Guide for 2025 at an awards ceremony in Canberra. Cat is from Inala Nature Tours on Bruny Island and in July won the inaugural Tassie Tour Guide Award. She specialises in Tasmania’s wildlife and connecting people to nature through storytelling. Well done, Cat!

GOLD AND MORE FOR TASSIE CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS The Australian Cross Country Championships took place in Ballarat recently. Tasmania secured a gold medal thanks to the efforts of Archie Dixon, who took out the 3km Para Athletics Under 17 Men National Cross Country title. There were a number of different races split into lengths, ages, and genders, in which the very best cross country athletes in Australia competed. Tasmania shone in some other places too, including Ruby Smee’s fourth place in the 10km Women race, Clover Viney’s fifth place in the 2km Under 11 Women, and Jonty Walsh’s 16th place in the 3km Under 12 Men. Efforts from all Tasmanian athletes are to be commended, as they’re literally the fastest in the country!

NEW AUSSIE CHAMPIONSHIP: SOUTH HOBART FOOTBALL CLUB REPRESENTING TASMANIA South Hobart Football Club (SHFC) will represent Tasmania in the inaugural 2025 Australian Championship, a national second- tier competition launched by Football Australia in between A-League (national level) and NPL (local state-based). The club secured its place after winning the 2025 NPL Tasmania Premiership in late August. SHFC will be one of 16 clubs who will participate in a six-game group stage format – three home, three away – between 10 October and 16 November. By bridging the gap between the NPL and A-League, it gives a national platform for clubs like South Hobart. “As a group we’re really excited to represent Tasmania in the Australian Championships. We’ve put in countless hours of work to win the league, and now having the chance to test ourselves on the national stage is something we’re really proud of,” said Head Coach Max Clarke. The home games will take place at D’Arcy Street Oval on 12 October at 1pm against Wollongong Wolves, 9 November at 1pm against Marconi Stallions, and 16 November at 1pm against Heidelberg United.

PLEA TO REPAIR NORTH HOBART SKATE PARK There’s an online petition up at the moment asking the Hobart City Council and state government to look into repairing the North Hobart Skate Park. According to the petition, the park is suffering from cracks, a lack of lights and shelter, and outdated obstacles among other things. Notably, the park is used by She Shreds, a not-for-profit that supports girls’ participation in skateboarding, and the petition asks for appropriate facilities to support them – including a storage room, bathrooms, appropriate lighting, and undercover areas to allow use of the park in wet weather. This is timely, as She Shreds will be forced to leave their shed in Melville Street next year, as the premises are up for sale by the University of Tasmania. You can sign the petition and learn more about why it’s important at www.change.org/p/petition-to-upgrade-the-north-hobart-ec-skatepark.

BRONZE FOR NETBALL TASMANIA IN FIRST NATIONS TOURNAMENT
Netball Tasmania’s team recently won the bronze medal in the First Nations Tournament, an annual highlight of the national netball calendar. The tournament featured under-23 aged teams made up of First Nation netballers from every state and territory competing across five days of competition. It took place at Jubilee Park Stadium in Frankston, Victoria. While NSW came first and Queensland second,
the Lutruwita / Tasmania team claimed bronze in an impressive showdown against Victoria, 35-25. Well done, team.

TRIO OF TASSIE SIBLINGS AT PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS Three Tasmanian siblings have done the impossible and learnt to share, each earning their place on the state team at the Australian Pickleball Masters Cup National Final. After battling through a 10-week league, Anne Westell, Don Ryan and Chris Ryan all secured a spot in their respective age divisions: Anne in the Over 70s category, Don in the Over 60s, and Chris in the Over 50s. Robecca Sinclair, President of Pickleball Tasmania, said, “To have three siblings qualify across three different age groups is virtually unheard of.” The siblings competed at the National Final in Queensland on 27-28 September, joined by another 10 Tasmanians.

LAUNCESTON TO GET WHEELIE GOOD AT SKATING Works have commenced on major upgrades for the Royal Park Skate Park in Launceston. The new design will extend the skate area and introduce new features, including: quarter pipes, rails, and ledges to cater for all skill levels, an upgraded entry space with improved spectator seating and shade shelter, new rubbish bins, a drinking fountain, and clear entry signage. The park is closed to the public while works are underway, until its expected reopening in December 2025.

CREATIVITY UNCAGED IN ARTISTS WITH CONVICTION JAIL BIRDS EXHIBITION Prison is often a noisy, chaotic place. Yet at Risdon Prison, set near bushland and close to the Risdon Brook Dam, the sounds of nature still manage to break through. The raucous calls of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Masked Lapwings fill the sky, while the distinctive honk of Native Hens and the twitters of Superb Fairy-wrens echo through the grounds. In the confined world of prison, birds can become powerful symbols of freedom, resilience, and transformation.

It’s fitting then that this year’s Artists with Conviction exhibition is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the theme Jail Birds. Held at Hobart’s Good Grief Studios, an artist-run space, the exhibition showcases artwork and writing by individuals connected to the Tasmania Prison Service – including prisoners, parolees, those on community correction orders, and Department of Justice staff.

Visitors to the exhibition will experience a diverse range of creative works including poetry, paintings, drawings, sculpture, and woodwork crafted by inmates. Many artworks are for sale, with all proceeds going directly to the artists. Awards will be presented for both visual art and writing, judged by Tasmanian authors and members of the local arts community.

A standout feature of this year’s show is A Gentle Serpent – a giant knitted sculpture perched on two-metre-tall knitting needles made from sustainable Tasmanian timber. Created in the men’s knitting workshop Great Balls of Fibre, the piece is a collaborative effort led by volunteer Sam Leishman. “It’s been amazing to see our serpent grow each week,” Sam shared, “with contributions from prisoners and staff members. It’s a great collaborative piece, and the knitting needles seem to bring it to life!”

The exhibition also includes poems written by prisoners published in a tome and scattered throughout the gallery for visitors to take home. Artists inside have also been working on anonymous ‘Tiny Books’ offering an insight into individuals beyond their offending. These miniature works are nestled in a giant nest made from leaves gathered near the prison, blending creativity with the natural environment.

Opening night will feature a live performance of a hip hop track recorded by local artists Hermit Kovacic and RooBoy, in collaboration with inmates through the Bars Behind Bars music program. This initiative has transformed the Risdon Prison gym into a recording studio, where participants engage in writing and recording workshops—giving voice to personal stories through rhythm and rhyme. Sharing personal stories through art takes courage. Art in prison is more than just creative expression—it’s a powerful tool for transformation, emotional healing, building confidence and a sense of achievement. Through art and writing programs, prisoners can develop new skills, reconnect with their identities, and find purpose.

Artists with Conviction: Jail Birds runs from 8–20 November at Good Grief Studios, 62 Argyle Street, Hobart. The gallery is open daily from 10am–4pm. All are welcome.