For 50 years Shelter Tas has acted on behalf of Tasmanians on low and moderate incomes, including people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, advocating for improved access to affordable, safe, secure and appropriate housing.
Shelter Tas has grown to become Tasmania’s peak body for the housing and homelessness sector and is firmly established in its ability to influence government policy, while remaining fully embedded in the sector. Its work has evolved to include advocacy, service delivery, industry leadership, sector capacity building and training, state and national representation, awareness raising and research.
Shelter Tas’ achievements are a credit to the passion and commitment of its members and staff who, across 50 years, have sought housing justice in Tasmania.
The Shelter Tas milestones include the Specialised Housing & Homelessness Service Sector milestones.
1973
The Wrest Point Hotel Casino is a casino in Tasmania. It was Australia’s first legal casino, opening in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, on 10 February 1973.
1974
First women’s shelter (“Elsie”) established in Australia in Sydney, and the Hobart Women’s Shelter and Launceston Women’s Shelter were founded in Tasmania.
1975
Shelter Housing Action (Tas) (or Shelter) began as an unfunded, voluntary organisation out of concern about the shortage of housing for people with limited incomes.
It formed part of a nationwide network of Shelter organisations and was a founding member of National Shelter.
The Tasman Bridge disaster occurred on the evening of 5 January 1975, in Hobart, the capital city of Australia’s island state of Tasmania, when the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra, travelling up the River Derwent, collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge and caused a large section of the bridge deck to collapse onto the ship and into the river below.
The Henderson Enquiry into Poverty was released.
National Shelter was formed at the nation’s first National Housing Forum.
The Minister for Housing introduced Tasmania’s priority allocation system for public housing.
1978
Shelter began advocating for the removal of the State’s public housing debt.
The new Commonwealth State Housing Agreement was a major turning point for housing policy, introducing market rents for public housing and accelerating the emphasis on home ownership.
1979
The Emergency Housing Office was established as a pilot project by Shelter, providing housing information and referral services and providing emergency accommodation in 5 Hobart houses (renamed the Housing Assistance Service in 1986).
1981
Shelter was incorporated as State’s peak body.
1982
Shelter initiated a Public Tenants’ Group.
Co-operative Housing Service formed as a sub-committee of Shelter to help develop housing co-operatives in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Wilderness was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Protesters and environmental activists worked with the Australian Government to stop the damming of the Franklin River.
Tasmania’s first parliamentary Housing Inquiry.
1983
First Home Owner’s Scheme introduced by the Australian government.
1984
Northern Suburbs Housing Co-operative was the first co-operative formed under Shelter’s CHS initiative.
Anglicare’s Youthcare shelter for young men opens.
1985
Capital Gains Tax introduced on residential properties.
The national Local Government Community Housing Program commenced.
Tasmanian Development Authority established, together with the Home Ownership Assistance Program..
1986
Proposal to redevelop the Palfreyman building in North Hobart for community housing auspiced by Shelter.
1987
Hobart City Council commissioned the Hobart Inner City Housing Study.
1990
Shelter Tas received its first direct funding – $1,000 for administration costs.
Anglicare’s Youthcare shelter for young men opens.
1991
Shelter Tas expands to become a statewide organisation.
Australian government developed a National Housing Strategy.
1992
Housing Assessment System introduced to equalise housing allocations across the Tasmania.
1993
Community Housing Program replaced the Local Government Community Housing Program.
National Competition Policy was adopted.
1994
After 19 years of voluntary operation Shelter received one year’s funding for a part-time Project Officer.
1995
Shelter partnered with the Tasmanian government to hold Tasmania’s first Community Housing Conference.
1996
The Council of Homeless Persons established as a sub-committee of Shelter.
Community Housing Resource Organisation established.
The Port Arthur Massacre was a mass shooting that occurred on 28 April 1996 at Port Arthur, a tourist town in the Australian state of Tasmania.
1997
Tenancy law reform achieved in Tasmania after two decades of lobbying (Residential Tenancy Act, 1997).
1998
Shelter employed its first Executive Officer.
Tasmania’s Stock Transfer Program began transferring public housing stock management to community housing providers.
1999
Shelter changed its name to ShelterTASmania Inc.
2002
Private Rentals Partnership Program introduced to assist low income households facing barriers in the private rental market in Tasmania.
2003
Shelter adopted a new Constitution, establishing a Statewide management committee and organisational structure.
Tasmania developed its first Affordable Housing Strategy.
2004
Tasmanian government launched the Home Start program to support home ownership.
2005
Anglicare’s Burnie Lodge opened.
Tasmania’s Residential Tenancies Authority established.
2006
Affordable Housing Crisis Coalition formed by Shelter with others to raise the profile of the housing crisis.
The Beaconsfield gold mine collapsed on 25 April 2006 in Beaconsfield, Tasmania.
2007
Shelter partnered with others to develop the Tasmanian community sector’s housing policy position.
Anglicare’s Indigo Lodge opened.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance scheme began.
2008
Anglicare’s Bilton Lodge opened.
‘The Road Home’ national report on homelessness released.
The National Rental Affordability Scheme commenced.
The National Housing Supply Council was established.
2009
The National Affordable Housing Agreement replaced the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.
Three National Partnership Agreements on homelessness, social housing and Indigenous housing established.
2010
Anglicare’s Bayview Lodge.
Tasmanian Homelessness Plan 2010-13 launched.
Hobart City Council’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2013 launched.
2011
Shelter partnered with others to host: ‘Bringing Housing Together – Tasmania’ (an affordable housing forum) and ‘The Mental Health and Homelessness Symposium’.
Shelter began providing accredited skills training to build social housing workforce capacity.
Anglicare’s Thyne House opened.
Anglicare’s Grove House opened.
MONA as it is known today was opened on 21 January 2011. In May 2011, it was announced that the museum would end its policy of free entry and introduce an entry fee to interstate and overseas visitors while remaining free for Tasmanians.
2012
Anglicare’s Levi House opened.
Airbnb began in Tasmania.
2013
Shelter convened the Tasmanian Community Housing Forum “Trends, Tenants and Transfers”.
First graduates from Shelter’s accredited training program (in Cert IV in Social Housing).
Shelter convened a community housing forum to support sector capacity building in response to public housing stock transfers.
The redevelopment of Queens Walk in Hobart, originally known as Stainforth Court, was completed in 2013-2014. This involved a $8.5 million redevelopment that transformed the former public housing complex into the Queens Walk Apartments. The project included the construction of 16 one-bedroom units, 26 two-bedroom units, and a community room.
Tasmania’s Better Housing Futures stock transfer program began.
National Regulation System for community housing introduced.
Tasmanian government launched Housing Connect and ‘Front Door’ system.
2014
Shelter established the Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group.
2015
Shelter adopted its first organisation plan, Strategic Plan 2015-2018.
Shelter developed a Tasmanian Consumer Engagement Strategy.
Anglicare’s Trinity Hill opened.
Shelter commenced the Workforce Development Program.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme began.
National Shelter released the Rental Affordability Index.
2016
The Shelter Policy Committee was established.
2018
Shelter receives 5 year funding.
Anglicare’s Eveline House opened.
Anglicare’s Goulburn Street opened.
Hobart became Australia’s least affordable city for renters.
The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement replaced the National Affordable Housing Agreement.
The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation and the National Housing Infrastructure Facility were established.
2019
After 15 years of lobbying by Shelter Tas Tasmania’s housing debt was waived.
2020
Shelter active in advocacy for homeless sector needs following the declaration of COVID-19. Key points achievement include;
2021
Shelter commissioned research to monitor the impact of Airbnb/short stay accommodation on Tasmania’s private rental market.
2022
Shelter and Hobart Women’s Shelter commission research into housing challenges of women and children in Tasmania.
Wintringham officially received the keys to their first inter-state residential aged care home in Bellerive.
Homes Tasmania statutory body and Board were established.
National Housing Accord established commiting governments to meet new housing targets.
2023
Housing Australia Future Fund and Housing Australia established and the National Housing Supply and Affordability Counci re-instated.
2024
Shelter lobbied strenously to secure organisational certaintly achieving a 3 year funding package.
The National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness replaced the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.
Reform process for Tasmania’s Housing Connect Reform Project commenced.
2025
Shelter celebrates its 50th birthday!
