Community groups and locals are reeling after finding out a heritage-listed hall, used by community groups for decades, will close.
The Catholic Parish of Launceston cited 'substantial' works when it announced it will close the heritage-listed St Ailbe's Hall from mid-July 2026.
One of few remaining spaces of its kind in the Launceston CBD, the hall has served as a hub for diverse community events from dances and pre-loved clothing markets since it opened in 1932.
For almost 20 years, not-for-profit SwingMania has brought its own blend of weekly Lindy Hop lessons to St Ailbe's Hall.
Vice-president and teacher Cassie Tickner-Smith said the group was "pretty devastated" by the decision.
"We really love the St Ailbe's space. One, the size of it, but then it also has that connection back to being a dance space that has been part of the community for decades, going back to actually the era of swing dancing," she said.
She said she appreciated the work that had gone into repairing the hall and that some things were outside the Parish's control.
Nonetheless, Ms Tickner-Smith and her husband Nathan are now wondering where they can hold their classes.
"We are scrambling to try to find a new venue," she said.
"We're really hoping someone might reach out with the offer of a hall or an upstairs or a backroom space that can cater for 20 to 30 dancers on a Wednesday night."
St Ailbe's Hall is considered an example of Inter-War Free Classical architectural style. It is part of the Church of the Apostles Complex, which holds permanent heritage status as a site of historic cultural heritage significance.
The Catholic Parish of Launceston said in a statement it was clear that the building in its current condition was no longer suitable for ongoing use without significant redevelopment.
"The parish is actively exploring options that would see the site redeveloped in a way that remains true to its original purpose - a place grounded in service, community, and inclusion," it said.
'A beautifully run dance'
At 99-years-old, Beverley Locke sits on a sofa, wearing a bright red jacket.
She smiles as she looks back on long nights dancing the waltz and barn dance with her husband at St Ailbe's Hall.
"There was no yelling or being smart or anything like that," she said.
"It was just a beautifully run dance."
With a live band, so popular was the dancing at the venue that she said she often couldn't see much of the hall itself.
"They (the band) kept them so busy dancing that they didn't have time to muck about," she said.
She said it was sad the hall was closing, but was not surprised.
"It really did look in very bad repair and it would be hard to repair, I should imagine - and expensive," she said.
The parish said the scale of works required is substantial and sits beyond what it can responsibly undertake.
It is unclear exactly what works are needed to restore the building, or what they will cost.
The parish saying it acknowledged the closure will be felt by many, especially those with a long connection to the hall.
"The Finance Council's responsibility is to steward Parish assets in a way that is sustainable, responsible, and aligned with the mission of the Parish today and into the future," it said.
The parish was sent requests for more information about the works required, their projected cost, and the options the Parish is looking at for the future of the building.
The parish declined to comment.
City of Launceston councillor Tim Walker said the loss of an affordable community space will be felt.
"The parish has been generous in allowing community use for a long time," he said.
He said there was likely not a role for the council to lend assistance.
"It's become too much of a burden for the parish and unfortunately that can't become a similar burden for council," he said.
Organiser fears city will lose its vibrancy
Event organiser Jackie Barnes found out about the closure through social media and said she went "into a tailspin".
Her event, the inaugural Mill City Folk Festival, was booked in at the hall for August 2026.
"Knowing that in such a short amount of time between the announcement and my event on the 8th of August, I had very little chance of finding another venue that wasn't booked," she said.
After she pushed back, Ms Barnes said the parish had agreed to extend the closure date to accommodate the festival, much to her relief.
"I'm feeling really sorry for all the markets and the dance groups and community groups. There's bookings for the rest of the year that people have had," she said.
"With zero notice, they're going to be scratching to find alternative venues or alternate ways of running their events."
The parish was asked if it had extended the hall's closure to at least August. It declined to comment.
Ms Barnes said the future of community spaces in the Launceston CBD was looking dire, and urged the parish to keep St Ailbe's open.
"We've lost so many venues. We ended more community events right in the city to provide colour and excitement and people opportunities to engage and socialise right in our city," she said.
"We don't want to push things out to the fringes of the suburbs."
Church halls, she said, had a community hire rate, but without such spaces, groups are left struggling to find more than a thousand dollars a day to hire an established space in the city.
"It's a sad, sad day for Launceston if we lose this old girl," she said.
"We can't lose these spaces. We can't."