We are extremely proud to announce that CBG Architects has won the award to design Tasmania’s Gorge Hotel, which will be located on Launceston’s picturesque riverfront.

Competing against five architecture firms from across the country, CBG’s design for the $50 million luxury hotel (developed by JAC Group) was chosen for our response to key judging criteria, which included our philosophical response to the site and its surrounds.

Drawing inspiration from the cliffs and waterfalls of the famed Cataract Gorge, our hotel design amplifies the area’s key features. Tessellated glass on the building’s facade give the appearance of flowing water during the day, whilst the lobby’s cliff feature wall ensures every aspect of the building has Launceston’s premier attraction at heart.

"Our focus was to create a timeless, high quality and everlasting piece of architecture for the city," said CBG’s Director of Design, Pietro Giordano.

"For us the key was to ensure minimal visual impact to the surroundings, while still providing spacious rooms with breathtaking views of Cataract Gorge, the Tamara River and the mountains beyond for guests to enjoy," Pietro continued.

Located beside the riverfront and within easy walking distance of the CBD, our new hotel design responds to the boom in Tasmania’s tourism industry (and a lack of high-end hotels and conference facilities in Launceston), with visitor numbers increasing year-on-year.

JAC Group’s Managing Director, Dean Cocker, commented that they expect the 140-room hotel to become Launceston’s gateway to Cataract Gorge.

"With such an important development, we decided to run a commissioned competition among the six architects as we felt it was the best way to obtain a range of different concepts, allowing us to select the best design for the site," explained Dean.

Set across ten stories, the expected 4.5 to 5-star Gorge Hotel will boast five-star penthouse suites and a 500-delegate conference centre on the riverfront, catering for tourists, conferences and events.

The design has been considered to allow for the integration of a possible future sky lift gondola cableway from the rear of the Gorge Hotel to a station on the cliffs of Penny Royal, together with a third station at the First Basin of Cataract Gorge.

The hotel is anticipated to be complete by mid-2020 following council approvals.

Read more about the Gorge Hotel.