Mathers Place Activation and Rebranding

Mathers Place is a small but unique place in the Hobart CBD that hosts a collection of community organisations. As part of creating a plan for the refurbishment of the precinct, Village Well worked with the Hobart City Council and the community on placemaking, activation and rebranding of the precinct.

Four interactive workshops that involved a range of stakeholders and community members, resulted in a clear vision and new identity for the place, including a new name for the precinct, a resident organisation and a building. Various ideas that were raised by the participants were captured and realised as part of the refurbishment of the public realm. In addition to the range of outcomes from the workshops, the most important of all was the formation of an Action Team, which actively worked with the Council to support the project implementation and ongoing management.

Now, the revitalised Mathers Place is a safe and inviting place that allows both young and old to gather, interact and play on their own pace. The place is imbued with a sense of community, with the presence of constant community activities as well as the changing artworks and landscape elements that tell the story of the place. The relationship formed through the Action Team is still strong, contributing to efficient coordination of programs and active care for the place.