Custom Homes Hobart
Davies Design & Construction is based in north-west Tasmania. We don't build in Hobart — but we know the Hobart market, and we're glad to help connect you with the right team for your project.
An Honest Starting Point for Hobart Custom Home Projects
If you've found this page looking for a custom home builder in Hobart, here's the honest answer upfront: Davies Design & Construction doesn't build in Greater Hobart. Our base is Sheffield, in north-west Tasmania, and our active service area is the region within roughly one to one-and-a-half hours of home — Devonport, Launceston, the north-west coast, and Central Tasmania.
Hobart is approximately 260 km south of Sheffield. We've thought carefully about whether to expand the service area — and for now, the answer is no. The quality of a Davies build depends on being close enough to the site to manage it properly: regular site visits, quick problem-solving, and the kind of on-the-ground accountability that comes from genuine proximity. We're not willing to compromise that for the sake of market coverage.
What we can do is point you in the right direction. We work closely with Align Architecture & Interiors — an award-winning Tasmanian design studio with real experience across the Hobart market. If you're serious about a high-quality custom home in Greater Hobart, they're the right first conversation. Get in touch with us and we'll make the introduction.
Why People Build Custom Homes in Hobart
kunanyi/Mt Wellington
The 1,270-metre peak that defines Hobart's skyline is a daily presence for residents — visible from almost everywhere in the city, accessible by road to the summit, and the backdrop for some of the most dramatic residential outlooks in Australia.
MONA & Cultural Identity
The Museum of Old and New Art at Berriedale has changed what it means to be Hobart. MONA, Dark Mofo, and Hobart's growing gallery and restaurant scene have given the city a cultural density that punches well above its population of 247,000.
Heritage Character
Hobart has more pre-1900 buildings than any other Australian city outside Sydney. Battery Point, West Hobart, and North Hobart deliver streetscapes of Georgian, Victorian, and Federation architecture. Building here requires skill; the character rewards it.
Population 247,086
Greater Hobart's population of 247,086 (City of Hobart LGA: 55,077) supports a genuine city economy — universities, hospitals, government, and an increasingly tourism-led hospitality sector that has reshaped the city's employment and population profile.
Waterfront & Derwent Lifestyle
Hobart's relationship with the Derwent River and Sullivan's Cove is unlike any other Australian capital. The waterfront precinct, Saturday Salamanca Market, and the working port all sit within the fabric of everyday city life — not separated from it.
Diverse Suburbs
From the flat, affordable land of the northern suburbs to the heritage-dense inner city, the eastern shore's river views, and the rural fringes of the Huon and Channel, Greater Hobart offers an extraordinary range of build locations — each with its own character and price point.
What You Need to Know About the Hobart Market
Greater Hobart is not a single planning jurisdiction — it's made up of multiple councils, each with its own Local Provisions Schedule (LPS) or interim planning scheme. Understanding which council governs your site, and what planning framework applies, is the essential first step. Key things to know:
- City of Hobart LPS commenced 22 October 2025 — the most recent of Greater Hobart's councils to transition to the new framework. The PlanBuild Tasmania Application Service has been available for City of Hobart applications since 12 August 2024.
- Glenorchy City Council LPS commenced 18 August 2021. Clarence City Council LPS commenced 13 October 2021. Both are well-established frameworks with clear development standards.
- Kingborough Council remains under the Kingborough Interim Planning Scheme — it is currently the only Tasmanian council that has not yet commenced an LPS. Verify current planning status with Kingborough Council or the Tasmanian Planning Commission before purchasing land in the Kingborough LGA.
- Heritage overlays apply extensively across inner Hobart, Battery Point, North Hobart, and parts of Sandy Bay. Any design in a heritage overlay zone should involve pre-application consultation with the relevant council.
- Hobart's topography is complex — many of the city's most desirable sites are sloped, requiring retaining, stepped footings, or engineered solutions that add cost but often deliver the best outlook. Engage a structural engineer early for any sloped site.
- High-performance building design pays off in Hobart's climate — cold, damp winters and variable weather mean that building envelope quality has a direct and measurable impact on indoor comfort and energy costs throughout the year.
For a broad overview of building across Tasmania — including planning, costs, and process — our Building in Tasmania guide is a good starting point. For Hobart-specific planning enquiries, contact the relevant council directly or consult the Tasmanian Planning Commission.