Today’s opening of the University of Tasmania’s 444-apartment complex in Melville Street is a striking example of co-operation between the Tasmanian and Australian governments and the education sector.
430 of the apartments have been jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Australian governments under National Rental Affordability Scheme to provide discounted rental to students and eligible people.
The overall Melville Street apartment complex represents an $80 million investment by the University and also includes additional UTAS-funded apartments, 20 communal spaces, 339 car parks, a café, students’ plaza, music practice facilities and the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment.
During the construction phase the project employed between 150-260 workers and was designed by local company Terroir and Melbourne’s Fender Katsalidis (the designers of MONA) and built by local construction company Fairbrother Pty Ltd.
The opening of the Melville Street apartment complex means 770 dwellings have now been delivered by the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government under the National Rental Affordable Scheme – this includes 180 at the Newnham Campus, 120 at Inveresk and 40 at Burnie.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the Melville Street complex which, in addition to providing affordable rental apartments, will become a vibrant and colourful education precinct in Hobart.