This old watering hole has been serving up beers for well over 100 years. It's seen a few sad days in the past, but the new owners are now refreshing its image.
This is a pub in transformation. The new owners are turning things around, so if you think you know the Ocean Child, do a quick double-take.
Sure, it may be called a child, but this place is really a golden oldie with plenty of history. Beer has been served here since 1844. However the venue has also endured some sad days of decline which followed on from its heyday period, when it was once one of Hobart's great live music venues.
Yes, the Ocean Child is a funny little place with loads of character. It attracts a mixture of locals, business types and young ones. Since it is across the road from a large fire station, it also finds itself well placed to attract a ready crowd of strapping young blokes.
The owners have reopened the restaurant and are now trying to rebuild the venue's old reputation for being the place for big servings of bargain nosh. The filet mignon is the most popular menu offering.
At the moment, acoustic performances are held on Fridays and there are further plans to bring back more live bands, which will hopefully lure in noisy crowds.
Beerwise, you'll find Boags, Cascade and Guinness on tap. And if you've had one too many, you can probably just venture upstairs and crash out in the budget surroundings of comfy backpacker accommodation.
Robert Stevenson
