Odeon Theatre Hobart guide: seating, capacity, parking and buses

The Odeon is the big old theatre at 167 Liverpool Street in the Hobart CBD, on the corner of Watchorn Street. It opened in 1916 as a picture palace, spent three decades owned by the ABC as a studio and the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and now runs as a live music venue in DarkLab's In The Hanging Garden precinct.

The question most people ask about the Odeon is where they'll be sitting, and the answer depends on the show. The same room runs fully seated, seated without allocated seats, or with a standing floor, and the ticket type tells you which. The other things that catch people out: you need ID at the door even with a ticket, the venue is cashless, and there's no car park of its own.

We checked the venue's Venue, FAQ and Contact pages, three of its event pages, Metro Tasmania's fares, timetable, Park and Ride and interchange pages, and City of Hobart's car park pages on 2 October 2026. Rules can change from show to show, so read your event page too. For everything else on in town, see concerts in Hobart.

Quick facts

Odeon Theatre seating plan: how does the layout work?

The Odeon doesn't publish a seating plan, seat map or PDF on its own website. What it does publish is the capacity of each layout and how each ticket type works, and between them that tells you most of what a seating plan would.

The room has two levels: the floor and the mezzanine. According to the venue's Venue page:

So the mezzanine is seated in both set-ups. What changes is the floor: seats for a seated show, a standing crowd for a standing one.

What does my ticket type mean?

The FAQ says the Odeon "operates as both a general admission and allocated seating venue", and spells out the three show types:

• Reserved Seating "indicates a fully allocated, seated show." You've got a specific seat.
• Unreserved Seating "indicates a seated, general admission show." There are seats, but no allocated ones, so you sit wherever's free when you get in.
• GA Standing/Seated "indicates that the show is general admission standing and any available seating will be offered on a first come, first served basis."

For the two general admission types, getting there early matters. The venue's own advice is to "arrive early to enjoy a drink before the performance, enjoy the support acts and make a full night of it."

Where's the best place to sit?

The venue doesn't publish a view-from-seat guide, and we haven't been able to check one. A few things follow from the published layout, though:

• If you want to be close to the stage at a standing show, you want to be on the floor early.
• If you'd rather sit at a standing show, the mezzanine's 448 seats are your best bet. At a GA Standing/Seated show, they're first come, first served.
• For a reserved show, the seat map you'll see is the one on the ticket seller's page when you buy. The venue sells through Moshtix and Ticketmaster.

How big is the Odeon?

The venue gives two capacities: 841 fully seated and 1,350 for GA standing plus seated. The difference comes down to the floor. It holds 393 people seated or 902 standing, and the mezzanine seats 448 either way.

For comparison, Wikipedia says the theatre had seating for 1,200 when it opened in 1916, with 719 in the stalls and 481 in the dress circle.

How do I get to the Odeon?

The Odeon is in the CBD, so if you're staying in town you can probably walk. The venue's site doesn't give transport directions beyond the address and a map link, so the details below come from Metro Tasmania.

Bus

Metro Tasmania runs Hobart's buses, and right now they're free. Metro says "Tasmanians can travel on Metro buses for free, with no fares required on services across the State until 30 June 2027." It also says "Customers should not tap their GreenCard when boarding." You just get on.

Most routes run through the Hobart City Interchange. Metro's interchange map, dated September 2022, shows its stops on Elizabeth Street (stops A1 to A3, B1, D3, D4, 1 and 2) and Macquarie Street (C1, D1 and D2), plus a stop on Liverpool Street (L1) for route 540 to Mount Stuart and West Hobart. Use Metro's journey planner or app to find the stop that suits you and the walk from there.

Metro says that "Apart from exceptional circumstances, all of Metro's bus services are now provided by wheelchair-accessible low-floor buses."

Park and Ride

If you're driving in from the suburbs, Metro suggests Park and Ride "to avoid the hassle of driving and finding parking in the city centre." Check its Park and Ride page for locations and the buses that serve them.

Getting home after the show

Check your last bus before you go. We couldn't find a late-night bus timetable on Metro's site that we could confirm, so look up your route in Metro's journey planner for the night of your show, and have a backup if the gig runs late.

The venue doesn't name a taxi rank, rideshare zone or pick-up point. Agree on a spot with your driver or whoever's collecting you before the show. One more thing: the venue asks "that all attendees please leave the premises quietly to avoid disturbing our local residents."

Is there parking near the Odeon Theatre?

Not at the venue. The Odeon has no car park of its own, and its site doesn't recommend one. The City of Hobart runs several multi-storey car parks in the CBD. Its website was blocking our requests on 2 October 2026, so the details below come from archived copies of its car park pages from September and November 2025. Check the council's site before you rely on them.

A few things the council says about its multi-storey car parks:

• They include "free parking for the first 60 minutes", and the council says they're cheaper than on-street parking for longer stays. Fees are paid after that. Check the council's fees and charges page for current rates.
• Centrepoint has pedestrian access from Victoria and Murray streets, Bidencopes Lane and the Centrepoint Shopping Centre.
• All three of the car parks with detailed pages have accessible bays close to the lifts. You need a valid Disability Parking Permit to use them.
• The council's pages don't give closing times. They do say that if your car is locked in, you can call security on 03 6105 0420 to have it released after hours, and that a fee applies on top of your parking.

On-street parking in the CBD is signed and time-limited. Read the signs carefully.

Bag policy: what can you bring?

The Odeon's FAQ, as of 2 October 2026, says "You may have your bag checked upon entry to the venue by one of our licensed security guards." It doesn't set a bag size limit.

Prohibited items "include but are not limited to":

• alcohol
• textas, paint and similar items
• glass
• plastic bottles
• weapons

Also:

• Outside food and drink isn't allowed.
• Professional audio and video recording equipment isn't allowed. Media requests are up to the promoter.
• Smoking and vaping aren't allowed inside. The venue says "There are designated smoking areas outside of the venue."
• CCTV: the venue says by entering "you consent to being filmed by our systems."

The FAQ doesn't mention a cloakroom. If you need to bring anything bulky, email info@odeontheatre.com.au first.

Age rules and ID

Age rules are set per show. Each event page on the venue's site shows whether it's licensed and its age rule. Of the three event pages we checked, all were marked "Licensed", but the age rules varied: one was "All Ages", one was "Over 15" and one was "Over 18". Check your event before you buy for anyone under 18.

ID is checked at the door. The venue's conditions of entry say: "Valid ID must be shown upon entry to the venue even if you have a pre-purchased ticket." The right of admission is "subject to this code of conduct, liquor licensing laws and the terms and conditions agreed to at time of purchase", and Responsible Service of Alcohol rules apply to everyone. The venue doesn't list which IDs it accepts, so bring a current photo ID with your date of birth, and ask the venue if you're unsure.

The venue also says its policy on anti-social behaviour "is strictly enforced and applies to all individuals, including patrons, performers, promoters, staff and security." If something doesn't look right, tell a staff member.

Accessibility

The venue says: "The venue is fully accessible with seats available for patrons with mobility issues and reserved areas for wheelchairs." It asks you to email info@odeontheatre.com.au, or message the Odeon's Facebook page, "before purchasing tickets", and says venue staff "will be happy to assist."

The venue's pages don't go into more detail. They don't mention Companion Card, accessible toilets, lifts, a hearing loop or assistance animals. If you need any of those, ask before you book.

Metro's buses are low-floor and wheelchair accessible, apart from exceptional circumstances, and the council's multi-storey car parks have accessible bays near the lifts for permit holders.

Food and drink

• Bars: the venue offers "a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with a Tasmanian focus" from its bars.
• Cashless: "Odeon is a completely cashless venue. There is no cash kept on the premises." Bring a card or phone wallet.
• Food: the Odeon's FAQ doesn't list food inside the theatre. For a meal before the show, it suggests In The Hanging Garden, the precinct next door, which the venue says has "a range of high-quality food + drink options." The precinct also includes Altar Bar and the outdoor Cathedral and Garden kitchens.
• Outside food and drink isn't allowed in.

Tickets, doors and contact

Tickets: the FAQ names Moshtix and Ticketmaster as the ticket sellers for all concerts at the Odeon. It warns that if you buy from a reseller or an online marketplace, the venue can't vouch for the ticket and "you may be denied entry into the event." You can download your ticket from your Moshtix or Ticketmaster account.

Doors: each event page lists a door time. On the pages we checked they ranged from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, but yours may differ, so check your event.

Phone number: the Odeon's website doesn't publish a phone number. Its contact page lists:

• Accessibility, tickets and general: info@odeontheatre.com.au
• Commercial bookings and venue hire: bookings@odeontheatre.com.au
• Media: media@darklab.net.au

Lost property: the FAQ links to a form for registering a lost item.

A bit of history

The venue says the theatre was "built in 1916" and "inspired by the latest New York theatre designs of its time." Wikipedia fills in the rest:

• 1916: Tasmanian entrepreneur E.J. Miller opened it in May as The Strand Theatre, a silent picture house designed by Hobart architect George Stanley Crisp and modelled on The Strand in New York.
• 1918: a six-rank Wurlitzer organ was installed, which Wikipedia says was the only one of its kind in Tasmania.
• 1929: Union Theatres took it over, remodelled it and installed sound.
• 1956: after a modernist makeover by Greater Union, it reopened as the Odeon Theatre, with its facade covered in cladding and new neon signs.
• 1970: the ABC bought it as a radio recording studio, and from 1973 it was the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, which recorded and broadcast there until it moved to the Federation Concert Hall in 2001.
• 2001 to 2009: the Christian City Church owned it and restored many of its Federation-era features.
• 2009 onwards: developer Riverlee bought it. It reopened as a live venue, starting with events for the MONA FOMA and Dark Mofo festivals, and in 2019 it was redeveloped with DarkLab, a subsidiary of Mona, as part of the In The Hanging Garden precinct.

The venue "acknowledges and respects the Palawa people as the traditional and ongoing owners and custodians of the skies, land and water of Lutruwita."

Before you go

• Check your ticket type: Reserved Seating, Unreserved Seating or GA Standing/Seated.
• Check the age rule on your event page, especially if you're bringing anyone under 18.
• Bring valid photo ID. You'll need it at the door, even with a ticket.
• Bring a card or phone wallet. The Odeon is cashless.
• Leave the water bottle, glass, textas and outside food at home.
• Catching the bus? It's free. Check your route and last service in Metro's journey planner.
• Driving? Check when your council car park closes before a late show.
• Need access help? Email info@odeontheatre.com.au before you buy.

Upcoming shows at the Odeon