Last night’s inaugural 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards was a tremendous success and a wonderful celebration of our local business community.
As Chair of Business Greater Hobart, I was incredibly proud to see our 21 finalists recognised for their hard work, resilience, innovation and contribution to Greater Hobart.
Congratulations to our 2026 award winners:
Emerging Small Business Award: Happy Larry Deli
Professional Services Award: GDA Group
Trades and Construction Excellence Award: Southern Automotive
Innovation and ICT Award: Emerge Business Solutions
Customer Service Excellence Award: Personal Best Fitness
Inclusion, Equity and Belonging Award: TEDx Hobart
Leadership, Sustainability and Community Impact Award: Florage Tasmania
I was also honoured to present the Business of the Year Chairman’s Award to Da Angelo Ristorante, recognising its outstanding leadership, impact and sustained contribution to Greater Hobart.
Congratulations to every winner and finalist. These awards were created to shine a light on the people behind our small businesses and give them the recognition and promotion they deserve.
Thank you to our sponsors, partners, guests, volunteers and everyone who helped make the evening possible. A special thank you to our MC Alex Johnstone, musician Tony Mak and the team at RACV Hotel Hobart.
Most importantly, thank you to Greater Hobart’s small business community. You create jobs, strengthen our economy and help bring our communities to life.
This was our first awards nightbut it certainly will not be our last!
I recently spoke with ABC Radio Hobart about the growing career opportunities our city offers and why more people are choosing to build their lives here.
We discussed Hobart’s expanding technology and innovation sector, the growth of hybrid work and the increasing number of Tasmanians returning home.
Hobart offers something special: genuine career opportunities alongside an exceptional lifestyle, strong communities and easy access to our natural environment.
It is easy to focus on the negatives, and like every city, Hobart has challenges we need to address. But those challenges should not stop us from recognising our strengths.
We need to be more confident, talk our city up and do a better job of selling Hobart as a great place to live, work, invest and establish a business.
THRIVING LOCAL BUSINESSES HELP BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER, WRITES EDWIN JOHNSTONE
When people talk about small business, the conversation usually begins with jobs, economic activity and investment. Those things matter enormously. Small businesses employ local people, buy from local suppliers and keep money circulating through the region. But small business is not just part of the economy.
It is part of the community. It is the cafe where people meet each morning, the retailer that remembers a regular customer by name and the local service provider who takes the time to help someone navigate a difficult problem. Small business owners sponsor sporting clubs, donate prizes to school fundraisers, support local charities and give many young people their first opportunity in the workforce.
Often this support is provided quietly, without publicity or expectation of recognition. These contributions do not always appear on a balance sheet, but they help create the character, connection and sense of belonging that make Greater Hobart such a special place to live.
When a small business closes, we lose more than economic activity. We can lose a familiar meeting place, local jobs and people who have invested years in serving their community. Running a small business has never been easy. Behind every shopfront, office, workshop or home-based business is someone carrying responsibility for wages, rent, insurance, stock, regulations and customer expectations.
Operating costs have risen, household spending is under pressure and finding suitable staff remains challenging. Recent closures have reminded us that even well-known businesses can be vulnerable.
Having operated a Hobart small business for more than 20 years, I understand that the work rarely stops when the doors close. Business owners take the figures, concerns and unfinished jobs home with them. That is why small businesses need a strong local voice. Business Greater Hobart is the only local chamber in Hobart dedicated specifically to small business.
While larger statewide organisations and industry associations also do valuable work, our purpose is distinctly local. As a volunteer-run organisation, we connect small business owners, advocate on the issues affecting them and ensure their voices are heard in decisions about our region.
It is also why we established the Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards, the only local awards dedicated exclusively to small business across Greater Hobart. On 15 August, small business owners from across Greater Hobart will come together at RACV Hotel Hobart for our inaugural awards.
Twenty-one finalists will be recognised across seven categories spanning emerging businesses, trades, professional and technology services, customer service, inclusion and community leadership. The range of finalists demonstrates the diversity and quality of small businesses operating across our region.
Each has a different story, but all represent the initiative, hard work and personal commitment required to build and sustain a small business. The awards are not simply about turnover, growth or profit. They recognise resilience, innovation, service, leadership and the contribution businesses make to the people and places around them. Recognition matters, particularly during difficult periods.
It gives owners and their teams a chance to pause and acknowledge what they have achieved, something many rarely do while concentrating on the next customer, deadline or bill. But awards alone are not enough.
If we genuinely value small business, that support must also be reflected in the decisions made by governments and councils. Businesses need sensible regulation, timely approvals, accessible commercial areas, reliable services and genuine consultation before decisions affecting them are made. As customers, we also have a role.
Choosing a local cafe, retailer, tradesperson or service provider helps sustain local jobs and keeps our neighbourhoods active. Small purchasing decisions, repeated across a community, can have a significant collective effect.
The upcoming awards provide an opportunity to celebrate some outstanding businesses, but they should also remind us of the thousands of small operators who open their doors, employ local people and serve their communities every day. When local businesses thrive, the whole community benefits.
Edwin Johnstone is Chair of Business Greater Hobart and has operated a Hobart small business for more than 20 years.
As Chair of Business Greater Hobart, I was proud to officially launch the inaugural 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards.
The launch at Florage Tasmania brought together finalists, sponsors and Business Greater Hobart representatives ahead of the awards ceremony next month.
Small businesses create jobs, drive our economy and bring our communities to life. These awards celebrate the people behind them, their hard work, resilience and ambition.
Our 21 inaugural finalists showcase the strength and diversity of Greater Hobart’s small business community, and I look forward to recognising their achievements.
Winners across seven categories will be announced at RACV Hotel Hobart on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
For tickets, the full list of categories and finalists, and further information, visit:
Major Hotel Investment Shows Confidence in Hobart’s Waterfront
A major redevelopment at Elizabeth Street Pier is bringing fresh investment and new energy to one of Hobart’s most prominent waterfront locations.
Somerset on the Pier is being transformed into Citadines Elizabeth Street Pier Hobart, a premium waterfront hotel operated by The Ascott Limited Australasia.
The redevelopment has reportedly involved an investment of around $50 million, with the new hotel scheduled to open on 3 August.
The refurbished property will feature modern studio and apartment-style accommodation, with private balconies and views across Hobart’s harbour.
Importantly, the hotel will also have a strong Tasmanian focus. Local produce and suppliers will be featured throughout the guest experience, creating opportunities for Tasmanian food, beverage and hospitality businesses.
The development also demonstrates the importance of making Hobart’s visitor accommodation more inclusive. Six accessible rooms have been designed with the assistance of Accessibility Australia and include features such as remote-controlled shelving and benchtops.
At a time when parts of Hobart’s hospitality industry are experiencing significant pressure, this investment is a welcome sign of confidence in our city and its visitor economy.
A successful hotel contributes far beyond its own front door. Visitors spend money in nearby restaurants, cafés, shops, markets, attractions and transport services. Major developments also support construction, hospitality and tourism employment while creating opportunities for local suppliers.
Hobart’s waterfront is one of our greatest assets. It connects the CBD with Salamanca, Constitution Dock, the MONA ferry and many of our most important cultural, hospitality and tourism destinations.
We should welcome investment that respects this important location while creating jobs, supporting local businesses and improving the experience offered to visitors.
Hobart must continue to be a city where responsible investment is encouraged and where good projects can proceed with confidence.
The transformation of Elizabeth Street Pier is positive news for our waterfront, our visitor economy and the many local businesses that benefit from a vibrant and successful city.
In response to Ron Christie’s opinion piece about his decision to invite 50 people to run for Hobart City Council this October, there is no doubt Hobart needs respectful, capable and community-minded people around the council table.
Encouraging good people to stand is positive, but I am sure there are many capable people who were not on the former Lord Mayor’s list and are equally worthy of serving their community.
Hobart needs people who understand the challenges facing local businesses and residents, are active in the community, and have demonstrated a genuine commitment to Hobart over a sustained period, not just in the lead-up to an election.
Ultimately, it will be the people of Hobart who decide who has the experience, judgment and common sense to represent them. When a candidate asks for your vote, ask them two simple questions: What have you done for Hobart, and what practical experience will you bring to the council table?
Over the past month, I’ve been writing about a range of issues affecting Hobart, including several opinion pieces published in The Mercury. My July newsletter brings together my latest articles and updates on city development, local business, community initiatives and events.
Choir of High Hopes at Festival of Voices 2026
10th July 2026 – Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of performing with the Choir of High Hopes Hobart as part of the 2026 Festival of Voices. We took part in three pop-up performances at Hobart City Mission, Hobart Library and St David’s Cathedra.
2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards
3rd July 2026 – Nominations have now closed for the 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards, and we are delighted by the strong interest shown by businesses across the region.
27th June 2026 – St David’s Park is one of Hobart’s most beautiful and historic public spaces. I believe there is now an opportunity to look at how one corner of St David’s Park could be better used while still protecting the park’s heritage, trees and green character.
24th June 2026 – Dark Mofo has once again shown the value of major events to Hobart’s economy, with Hobart Airport recording around 100,000 airline seats during the two-week festival period and Dark Mofo drawing about 550,000 entries across its venues.
22nd June 2026 – Hobart City Council is considering a plan to remove 16 parking spaces from Montpelier Retreat and make a major section one-way as part of a redesign near Salamanca.
19th June 2026 – The recent debate around access fees, illegal parking and visitor numbers highlights a bigger issue: how do we ensure access to the mountain keeps pace with growing demand?
10th June 2026 – When people think about what makes a great city, they often talk about parks, gardens and public spaces. But simply having green space isn’t enough. The best public spaces are the ones people actually use.
Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of performing with the Choir of High Hopes Hobart as part of the 2026 Festival of Voices.
Hobart City Mission
We took part in three pop-up performances at Hobart City Mission, Hobart Library and St David’s Cathedral, bringing music into very different community spaces across the city.
Each performance had its own atmosphere, but they all demonstrated the ability of music to bring people together. It was wonderful to see people stop, listen, smile and share the moment with us.
For the Choir of High Hopes, singing has always been about much more than performing. The choir provides a safe and welcoming environment where people from different backgrounds and life experiences can build friendships, regain confidence and feel that they belong.
Hobart Library
Being part of Festival of Voices gave our members an opportunity to share that spirit with the broader community and to be part of one of Hobart’s most special winter events.
I am proud to sing with the choir and serve as a board member. Experiences like these remind me why community organisations matter. They create opportunities for people to participate, connect and contribute, while adding warmth and life to our city.
Thank you to Festival of Voices, each of our host venues, our volunteers and everyone who stopped to listen and support us.
St David’s Cathedral
Most importantly, congratulations to every choir member who took part. It was a wonderful week of music, friendship and community connection.
The sudden closure of seven well-known Hobart hospitality venues should be treated as a serious wake-up call for the city.
Cargo Bar, Jack Greene, Post Street Social, Observatory Bar, Republic Bar, Franklin Wharf Restaurant & Bar, and Franklin Wharf Function Centre are not minor venues on the edge of the economy. They are part of Hobart’s social life, visitor economy, waterfront identity, nightlife, and local business ecosystem.
When seven venues close their doors at once, the impact goes far beyond the businesses themselves. It affects staff who now face immediate uncertainty. It affects suppliers who may be owed money or lose important customers. It affects performers, security workers, cleaners, tradespeople, event organisers, and people with bookings.
The immediate priority must be the affected workers. More than 80 staff are reportedly impacted and deserve clear communication, practical support, and the best chance of being retained if the venues reopen under new ownership.
But we should not pretend this has happened in isolation.
Hospitality is under enormous pressure. Food and beverage costs have increased. Utilities have increased. Insurance has increased. Wages, compliance costs, rent, and finance costs have all added pressure. At the same time, many households have less discretionary money to spend.
Going out for dinner, drinks, or entertainment is often one of the first things people cut back on when household budgets are under strain. That creates a brutal squeeze for hospitality businesses. Costs go up, customers become more cautious, and businesses are still expected to maintain quality, service, staffing, and atmosphere.
For a city like Hobart, that should concern everyone.
Hospitality is not just about meals and drinks. It is a vital component of tourism, employment, the student economy, events, festivals, conferences, and the overall experience of the city. It gives people a reason to come into town, stay longer, spend money, and return.
If Hobart loses too much of that energy, the city becomes less attractive to visitors, residents, workers, and investors. That is why this cannot be seen only as a hospitality problem. It also points to bigger challenges around population, housing, and business confidence.
Businesses need people. They need workers, customers, students, visitors, families, and residents spending money in the local economy. Without people, there is no economy.
That does not mean growth without planning. Population growth must be matched with housing, transport, infrastructure, and services. Hobart already has serious housing affordability challenges, but the challenge is not to choose between housing and growth. It is to deliver both.
Hobart needs more housing in the right places, better use of underutilised sites, and practical planning decisions that support activity in and around the city. Transport decisions also need to make it easier for people to access Hobart, not harder.
Business confidence matters too. For small and medium businesses, extra costs, delays, and uncertainty can quickly become the difference between staying open and closing.
Hobart should be a city that backs business, supports workers, attracts visitors, and gives people more reasons to come in and stay.
That means taking the night-time economy seriously, supporting events and festivals, and encouraging more residents, activity, and confidence across the CBD, Salamanca, the waterfront, and North Hobart.
The closure of seven venues overnight is not just a hospitality story. It is a city story. It is about jobs, confidence, and the future of Hobart’s night-time economy.
I hope these venues are sold quickly, reopened, and once again become part of Hobart’s social and economic life. But I also hope this moment sparks a bigger conversation about the kind of city we want to be.
Hobart has enormous potential. With the right focus on people, housing, investment, access, and city activation, we can build a stronger, more confident, and more vibrant city.
As Chair of Business Greater Hobart, I am proud to be hosting the inaugural 2026 Greater Hobart Small Business Excellence Awards.
These awards have been created to recognise and celebrate the small businesses, business owners and teams that make an important contribution to the Greater Hobart economy and community.
Small businesses are at the heart of our region. They create local jobs, provide important services, support community organisations and help give our cities and towns their unique character.
The awards attracted a strong field of entries from across Greater Hobart, with finalists selected in seven categories covering emerging businesses, professional services, trades, innovation, customer service, inclusion and community impact.
The awards night will be held on Saturday 15 August 2026 at RACV Hotel Hobart. It will bring together finalists, business owners, sponsors, community leaders and supporters for an evening of recognition and celebration.
I am looking forward to hosting the event, congratulating all of our finalists and recognising the hard work, resilience and achievements of our local small business community.
The awards are an important opportunity to highlight the people behind our businesses and to celebrate the contribution they make to Greater Hobart every day.
Find out more about the awards, view the finalists and purchase tickets
