That journey reached a significant milestone last weekend when the City of Launceston advertised the development application for the redevelopment of the hall.

It is a notable moment in our city's long and rich history, particularly given it relates to one of Launceston's most adored and celebrated architectural masterpieces.

There is no doubt this has been a significant project involving a number of dedicated and talented people - from project managers to heritage and planning experts, architects, and horticulturalists.

Originally named the New Pavilion, the Albert Hall was built in 1891 at a cost of some 14,000 pounds to house the Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition of 1891-92.

At the time of its construction, the Albert Hall was the 11th largest public building in the world.

The official opening in November 1891 was a spectacle of its own, with the ceremony preceded by a parade reportedly 10 city blocks long and led by Mayor John Gould riding a white horse.

The hall's first major event, the Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition of 1891-92, attracted more than 260,000 people over four months. The population of Launceston at the time was just 17,000.

Boasting classical Victorian architecture, the hall is considered one of Launceston's most significant heritage buildings and was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1978. Albert Hall has been used for a host of events over the years including exhibitions, balls, concerts, graduation ceremonies, sporting events and religious and political rallies.

It was used as a temporary hospital during the influenza outbreak of 1919 and as accommodation for victims of the 1929 floods.

It has hosted visits from Queen Elizabeth II, the late Princess of Wales and Australian Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott.

In 1980, the council approved significant improvements to the building, including the construction of the two-storey eastern wing, under-stage dressing rooms, acoustic works, improved access facilities and other general refurbishments.

Now, this beautiful building is poised to undergo its most significant makeover in its 131-year history.

This $11.58 million project - with $11 million from the Federal Government - is part of the $568 million Launceston City Deal, which is a 10-year partnership aimed at transforming Launceston into Australia's most liveable and innovative regional city.

The project is due for completion in late 2023. One of the major objectives of the project will be to provide greater connectivity and interaction between the hall and another of Launceston's most popular attractions, City Park.

Planning for this project has drawn heavily on feedback from key users groups and the local community. The council met with a range of internal and external stakeholders last year to assist with planning for the project.

The resulting improvements to the hall's accessibility and functionality will ensure it remains relevant as a venue for conferences, functions and other events both large and small. It will also ensure that the hall continues to serve the Northern Tasmanian community for many years to come and provide the region with a venue that will also help attract local visitors and tourists alike.

Work on stage one and two of the redevelopment, which included upgrades to the hall's heating, meeting rooms, toilets, lighting, audio and visual capabilities, will be completed this year.

Stage three civil works are expected to start later this year and will include an eye-catching extension to the hall fronting the city park.

This will involve a significant redevelopment of the eastern wing, including the café, kitchen, a meeting room as well as a new entrance and foyer.

A Tasmanian architectural firm was engaged as the primary architectural and engineering design team for the project and together we have created a vision that will see the Albert Hall become a true cultural destination for northern Tasmanians and ultimately increase tourism to the region.

There is no doubt that the Albert Hall is one of our city's most iconic buildings. But the stark reality is, it is no longer fit-for-purpose as a contemporary meeting and exhibition space.

Through the body of work the architects have undertaken, the design concept is clear - to integrate Albert Hall with and to showcase the City Park, and to engage visitors more deeply and meaningfully - as it was originally intended by the original designers some 130 years ago.

This was one of the key recommendations made by our independent heritage consultant during the development of the Heritage Conservation Management Plan.

Ultimately, this is an incredible opportunity to enhance the already much-loved qualities of Albert Hall and City Park, and in doing so, reimagine the intrinsic connection originally planned between both.

During the planning phase of the project, the design team and Council undertook significant community engagement - both with the current users and operators of the hall, as well as a four-week public engagement process through the Council's Your Voice Your Launceston platform.

The feedback we received helped inform and reshape the project moving forward in a genuine and meaningful way.

But that's not the only opportunity the public will have during this process.

With the advertising of the development application, residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed design. We know that Northern Tasmanians are passionate about the Albert Hall, so it is vitally important that we continue to engage with our community going forward throughout this process.

Together, we seek to create a city that enjoys a dynamism for the future while celebrating our past.