Chocolate Experience approved at Cadbury Hobart site with $150m investment
Glenorchy City Council has approved a $150 million Chocolate Experience at the Cadbury factory site in Claremont on 5th May 2026. The decision pushes forward one of the largest tourism investments currently in the southern market and sets a clear benchmark for destination-led developments.
The project is forecast to attract 431,000 visitors annually while injecting more than $120 million into the Tasmanian economy each year. It is also expected to support over 300 construction jobs and more than 200 ongoing roles, placing it among the most commercially significant tourism builds underway.
For Melbourne operators, the scale is the signal. Large-format, experience-driven attractions are now competing directly for domestic travel spend, particularly across the eastern seaboard. As interstate destinations invest heavily in drawcard experiences, the pressure shifts to cities like Melbourne to keep pace with offerings that convert visitation into extended stays.
Mr Currant said the approval follows years of coordination across multiple stakeholders. He said, “This is a huge win for Tasmania and for Claremont. It represents a generational boost for the local economy, creating jobs, attracting investment, and helping move Tasmania’s visitor economy to the next level. Securing Development Approval has taken years of working closely with the local community, Council and Cadbury, and it’s fantastic to see all that hard work starting to pay off.”
He added that the Experience is being positioned as a global-standard attraction. He said, “From the moment visitors arrive, this will be unlike any chocolate attraction in the world. It will be an innovative, immersive and deeply emotive experience that uses storytelling and technology to bring the magic of chocolate-making to life. It will be full of surprise, nostalgia, creativity and joy, and, of course, there will be plenty of chocolate along the way. It is one Tasmanians will be proud of and one I’m privileged to help deliver.”
Investment signals shift in tourism market
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Amy Hills said the development reflects the need for ongoing investment to remain competitive. She said, “For our industry to go from strength to strength, we need to keep innovating and keep investing in attractions. This is a next-level concept that is going to make Tasmania the must-do destination that it deserves to be.”
She added, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tell the Cadbury story properly and authentically, and it will lift the whole industry with it. Importantly, it will cater to a variety of visitors and deliver on the Tassie brand promise tenfold.”
Toby Smith, President of Mondelēz International for Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, said the company will support the Experience as a brand partner. He said, “Cadbury’s story and Tasmania’s story have been intertwined for more than a century, and this project will bring that story to life for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and help write the next chapter for Claremont, for Cadbury and for Tasmanian tourism.”
Melbourne-based investment bank Kidder Williams is leading capital raising efforts for the project. Development approval is expected to strengthen investor engagement as funding discussions continue.
95% of the project cost will be privately funded, supported by existing government backing. The Experience is scheduled for completion by September 2028, reinforcing a broader shift towards high-value, destination-led tourism investment across Australia.
