The development  - which includes a five star hotel, library, conference centre and theatre - needs Crown Land Services and Glenorchy City Council approval.

Mona founder David Walsh admits there is much to do before the project begins, including sorting out funding for the development at the Berriedale site.

“Since I presented a preliminary proposal in 2017, a great deal, including the name, has changed,” Mr Walsh said.

“In particular, the facade has been altered to present more harmoniously with the exterior of the museum.

“The funding package is far from finalised and, of course, we will be seeking input about many aspects of the development from the local and wider communities.”

If the necessary approvals are given, Mr Walsh said the project would create more than 450 full time construction jobs and increase Mona’s staff by 120.

“If all goes well, we are working towards a completion date in 2024,” he said.

Mona says Motown’s centrepiece will be a library, which “will house David and his mates’ collection of books, maps, documents, and weird stuff.”

Motown will include a five star, 176-room hotel, 1075-seat theatre and a new multi-purpose conference centre (with capacity for 1000 people for a banquet-style gala dinner and 1600 people for a plenary-style event).

A spa designed by artists James Turrell and Marina Abramović, playgrounds designed by Toshiko MacAdam, Tom Otterness and Daily tous les jours, more gallery space, and office space for Mona staff are also part of the project.

Mona CEO Mark Wilsdon said Motown would be part of the “Mona experience.”

“Motown will build on and expand this complete visitor experience,” Mr Wilsdon said.

“This will be great for Mona’s sustainability, and—more broadly—Tasmanians, who we expect will reap the ensuing tourism, social and economic benefits of the development.”  

He said the Mona museum would stay open throughout the construction of Motown and Mona will hold an information session on Monday December 17 from 6pm to 7pm at Mona.

Anyone with questions about Motown can contact Mona on: intheworks@mona.net.au