Last modified April 16, 2024

Design Tasmania reaches 45th anniversary | The Examiner | Launceston, TAS

## Design Tasmania (Launceston): what it is, why it matters, and how to visit

Design Tasmania is a not-for-profit design centre in Launceston, Tasmania, dedicated since 1976 to furthering design in Tasmania through its exhibitions, collection, and store. Tasmania It sits in City Park, at the corner of Brisbane and Tamar Streets (Launceston TAS 7250), at -41.4340222, 147.142425. Tasmania

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to understand a place through what it makes—not just what it sells—Design Tasmania is a compact stop that can add real texture to a Launceston day: contemporary craft, product design thinking, and a long-running institutional effort to take Tasmanian design seriously on a national and international stage. Tasmania

## What you’ll find inside

### A gallery with free admission
Gallery admission is free. Tasmania That matters because it makes the space easy to slot into a short itinerary (even if you’re only in Launceston for a morning), and it removes the usual “commitment pressure” that can come with museums or ticketed exhibitions.

Design Tasmania explicitly positions itself as a not-for-profit gallery where donations support staging exhibitions, offering public programs, and caring for the Design Tasmania Wood Collection. Tasmania

### The Design Tasmania Wood Collection (a serious niche)
Design Tasmania states that its Wood Collection was established in 1991, and is an evolving collection of contemporary Tasmanian wood design. Tasmania They describe it as the only museum collection of its type in Australia. Tasmania

A concrete detail worth knowing: Design Tasmania notes the collection has 80 pieces, acquired biennially (every two years) with support from its Fellows donor program. Tasmania

If you like design that shows its process—grain, joinery, finish, structure—this is the anchor feature to look for.

## The Store @ Design Tasmania (design retail that’s actually curated)
On-site retail isn’t an afterthought here. Design Tasmania’s store describes itself as a curated retail collection featuring the best of Australian design, with a core focus on Tasmanian designers and makers. Tasmania

Key practical detail: the store is open for in-person shopping, and there’s also an online store available 24/7. Tasmania

## Visiting details you’ll actually use

### Address and contact
– Address: Corner of Brisbane and Tamar Streets, Launceston TAS 7250 (City Park) Tasmania
– Phone: +61 3 6331 5506 Tasmania
– Email: [email protected] Tasmania
– Coordinates: -41.4340222, 147.142425 Tasmania

### Opening hours
Design Tasmania lists current opening hours as:
– Mon & Tue: Closed
– Wed–Sat: 10am–3pm
– Sun: 10am–2pm
– Public holidays: Closed Tasmania

Outdated-data flag: hours and holiday closures can change; the times above are what Design Tasmania publishes on its own site at the time of the cited pages. Tasmania

### Getting there without guesswork
Design Tasmania describes itself as less than an 8-minute walk (flat ground) from Launceston’s town centre. Tasmania It’s also directly accessible via Metro Tasmania bus routes 120, 121, 130, 131, and 140 (they link to Metro Tasmania for trip planning). Tasmania

## Accessibility and inclusivity notes (straight from the venue)
Design Tasmania includes unusually specific accessibility information:

– Assistance dogs: welcome in all spaces; water bowls available on request. Tasmania
– Low vision: wayfinding resources are “currently in development”; staff can offer personalised guided tours on request. Tasmania
– Deaf/hard of hearing: exhibitions include written panels; many videos are captioned or playable without sound, with acknowledgment that some older archive resources lack captions (and they offer to provide captions on request for particular videos). Tasmania
– Mobility: wheelchair/mobility-scooter street access is available via the Tamar Street entry; the building is described as single storey, with no ramps, stairs, elevators, or escalators; there are dedicated toilet facilities. Tasmania
– Sensory sensitivities/autism: they describe Design Tasmania as a quiet space and note it can be booked for sensory-sensitive tours. Tasmania
– Visiting with children: galleries are pram-friendly; they ask caregivers to enforce a “no touching” rule for safety and collection care. Tasmania

## A quick, practical way to plan your visit
Given the listed opening hours and the fact that admission is free, a useful strategy is to treat Design Tasmania as either:
– a short, high-quality stop (especially if you’re walking through City Park), or
– a targeted visit if you specifically want to see the Wood Collection and then browse the store’s Tasmanian maker-focused range. Tasmania

## About the organisation (for context-minded travelers)
Design Tasmania was founded in 1976 by Gary Ogle Cleveland AM and Pat Cleveland, and its Wood Collection was established by Gary in 1991. Tasmania The organisation frames its work as embracing diversity and encouraging inclusivity, with programs and advocacy intended to make design accessible. Tasmania

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