Launceston church becomes 15-suite hotel opening 20 Nov

The owners are local. Pulse Tasmania names the founders as Tim and Ally Daley and Daniel Harris, and says Ally Daley led the concept, design and project coordination. The report does not name a company behind the project, so none is listed here.

The owners say Tasmanian trades, makers, craftspeople and suppliers built most of the hotel. For builders and suppliers around Launceston, that is a signal about who got the work on a heritage fit-out. The report does not give a project cost or say which approvals were required.

The numbers

• 15 suites, adults-only, opening 20 November 2026.
• Constructed in 1889 as a Wesleyan Sunday school beside the Margaret Street Wesleyan Church, by Launceston firm J. & T. Gunn, per Pulse Tasmania.
• Remodelled and converted into a church in 1917-18 under architect Harold Masters, reopening for worship in January 1918.
• Uniting Church sale plans announced in 2017.

Pulse Tasmania reports that the original stained glass and timber detailing remain. The fit-out also includes stone finishes, sculptural lighting, fireplaces, textiles and custom furniture. Suites carry constellation names, check-in and check-out are self-service, and stays are aimed at one or two nights.

The owners say they kept most of the project quiet while it was built, so it could be unveiled finished. Ally Daley told Pulse Tasmania: “Some details are designed to make an impression, others are simply there to be discovered.” She also said she wanted touches of surprise and whimsy, and the owners said they did not want The Ember to feel generic or placeless.

What’s next

The Ember is scheduled to open on 20 November. The report does not give room rates, a booking launch date or an operator beyond the owners, so those details are not confirmed.

Source: Pulse Tasmania, 8 November 2026. Earlier Launceston property coverage: The Commercial pub sale.