The Lounge

Award-winning community initiative to return to the CBD in 2026 under new leadership

Founded by Launceston Central in 2024, the seasonal pop-up has transformed an unoccupied shopfront in the CBD into a bustling community hub during the winter months. The Lounge will return once again this winter, with Gallery Theatre taking over host duties.

Designed as an antidote to the winter blues, The Lounge has offered a cosy ‘third place’ in the Launceston city centre where people can gather to enjoy music, art, games, and companionship in a warm and welcoming environment. Each year, business sponsors and community partners have generously donated items to fill the space, including furniture, musical instruments, curtains, and a play area for children.

Gallery Theatre, currently located in the Quadrant Mall, is a pop-up community theatre space hosting workshops and theatre productions. Led by Shane Webb, founder and director of Ghostlight Creative, this community art incubation space is a natural fit for leading The Lounge by day and hosting theatre and art programs at night. Shane Webb is eager to lead the next phase of The Lounge. “Ghostlight Creative is thrilled to take stewardship of The Lounge, a project that sits at the intersection of Launceston's creative, cultural, and business communities,” says Mr. Webb. “It's a space for the community to gather, connect, and build something together that truly reflects this amazing city.”

In 2025, alongside the City of Launceston, more than 20 local businesses and organisations contributed to bringing The Lounge to life. Gallery Theatre will approach past sponsors to encourage them to continue their support of The Lounge, but inviting new community partners is a goal as well. “The Lounge shares The Gallery Theatre's spirit and ideology - helping to bring life into the CBD and to strengthen ties with Launceston's business community. It's a solid reminder that when arts, enterprise, and community share the same room, the whole city benefits. Culturally and economically,” says Mr. Webb.

The Lounge return date and location are to be announced soon. While Launceston Central will no longer be overseeing The Lounge, they will promote it to the wider community and encourage locals and visitors to continue enjoying this unique community space.

The idea of a third place was originally defined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg as a place ‘for people to gather easily, inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably.’ As the term suggests, it’s a third, familiar setting that’s separate to home (first place) and work/school (second place) - so somewhere like a coffee shop, library, market, or church.

In today’s post-COVID digital age, the loneliness epidemic has become worryingly prevalent; making tangible third places more important than ever for real-life connection and reinforcement of a true sense of belonging and community. These spaces become the tonic to the effects of mundanity and general feelings of disconnection – which wintertime can intensify – offering people respite from their responsibilities and worries, and the chance to engage with others.

Launceston Central is a not-for-profit organisation that has been running some of Launnie's favourite events in the background for over 30 years - you might remember us as Cityprom, the organisers of Crazy Day (now running under the name Super Sale Saturday). Throughout all these years, our goal has always been to bring vibrancy to our city centre, and encourage locals to share their love for this beautiful place that we are so lucky to call home.

The Lounge is our love letter to the people who make Launceston such a wonderful place to live - all of you, the community. In this spirit, all are welcome. We hope that this space helps you find some peace, connection, and maybe even some new friends to keep you company this winter.

If you're –

• At work, and looking for somewhere warm to eat lunch away from your desk
  
• Tired from shopping
• Looking for somewhere to sit and enjoy your coffee
• Bored and looking for something to do
• In need of somewhere to spend an hour or two before your bus home
• Keen on finding some music buddies to jam with
• Feeling lonely
• Between errands in town

– then The Lounge might be the place for you!

While The Lounge is primarily a place for people to enjoy unscheduled activity, there will also be a weekly schedule of drop-in activities! Think jam sessions where anyone is welcome to join in, live music by local artists, arts and crafts sessions - things that you don't need to book in for to enjoy, and all for FREE.

Speaking of unscheduled activities, The Lounge also has a bunch of fun stuff on offer all the time! We have:

• Books to read
• Board games to enjoy with friends or friendly strangers
• Puzzles to complete
• Musical instruments to play (including a piano!)
• A kids' corner with toys and activities

Feel free to also bring in your own games, instruments or projects to work on.

Absolutely!

There will be someone in the space at all times who is charged with keeping things safe and secure, and we have been in contact with the local police to keep them abreast of all that is going on.

There is a kids' corner specifically for young children, so they can play to their heart's content while the grown ups do as they please in The Lounge - however please note that young children do require an adult to accompany them.

The space is wheelchair accessible, and while there isn't a bathroom on site, there are public ambulant bathrooms nearby as well as signage in The Lounge with directions to them.

We have also implemented a quiet hour for those who deal with sensory processing disorders - quiet hour will be from 10am - 11am every day.

If you have any specific questions about accessibility, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!