A building that once housed provisions and was a base ahead of the settlement of Melbourne, Launceston's Macquarie House is no stranger to being a house of innovation.
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However, Macquarie House's future will soon be transported into the digital age, with year-long renovations by the City of Launceston Council nearly complete at the historic landmark.
The house will be the home of business and entrepreneurial start-up venture Enterprize, who are expected to take up residency of the first and second floors of the building next month.
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However, a sneak peek ahead of Enterprize moving in to their new digs will be on offer to Launceston residents on Saturday, with tours being held every 15 minutes between 10am until 1pm on Saturday.
City of Launceston acting manager of architectural services and Macquarie House superintendent Andrew McCarthy said the building had been restored to its original open-plan state and interior work had been done.
One of the major differences is the removal of a spiral staircase from the original, which ran from the basement to the top level.
Mr McCarthy said the staircase had taken up a lot of floor space and had been removed to make more room but also to improve accessibility.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the project had involved the construction of a new timber-clad annexe at the rear of Macquarie House, featuring stairs, elevators, toilets, and utility infrastructure.
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"We've retained a huge amount of the original building, which still features original timber and brick work, and is a fascinating glimpse into the past," Councillor van Zetten said.
"Now Macquarie House is going to be a new home for Enterprize Tasmania, teaching people new skills, creating new pathways for potential start-ups and new businesses, and creating new links in our community."
Public toilets will also be part of the development, but work still needs to be complete before the toilets are open to the public.
The redevelopment has been supported by the Launceston City Deal and has been overseen by Vos Construction and Joinery.
The lower level includes a modern commercial kitchen and a process will be underway in the next few months to seek a tenant for the space.