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Wrest Point holds a unique place in Australian gaming history as the country's first licensed gaming venue, open since 1973. The Pookie Lounge — the newly renamed and comprehensively renovated gaming floor that debuted in late 2025 — is the best version of this iconic venue in decades. Derwent River views, outstanding seafood, and a reinvented slot floor make this a must-visit on any Tasmanian trip.
TAS #1
Wrest Point in Sandy Bay, perched above the Derwent River estuary on Hobart's southern suburbs, has been a fixture of Australian gambling history since its opening in 1973 as the first legal gaming venue on the Australian mainland. Over five decades it has witnessed every evolution in Australian gaming culture — from the poker machine revolution of the 1980s through to the digital gaming transformation of the 2020s.
The 2025 renovation that created The Pookie Lounge represents the most significant investment in the property in 20 years. The gaming floor has been completely stripped back and rebuilt: new carpet, new machines, new lighting, new seating, and — critically — new views. The renovation team removed the internal partition walls that previously blocked the lower-floor gaming areas from accessing the Derwent River views that the building's iconic circular tower enjoys.
The result is a gaming floor that now catches the pewter-grey Tasmanian light in the mornings and the dramatic sunsets over the river in the evenings. Hobart's unpredictable weather — vivid blue-sky days punctuated by fast-moving Roaring Forties squalls — gives the view a constantly changing character that players on extended sessions get to experience in real time. It's honestly compelling.
The renovated floor houses 420 machines across a main gaming area and a smaller members-only section with 80 higher-denomination cabinets. The machine inventory is a mix of Tasmanian favourites — the local crowd's loyalty to specific game titles is notably stronger here than at mainland venues, and the venue has clearly listened — alongside new titles introduced with the renovation.
The lounge naming is a deliberate nod to Tasmania's affectionate relationship with pokies culture. "Pookie" has been Tasmanian vernacular for pokies machines since at least the 1990s, and the venue's decision to officially adopt the name for their gaming floor has been warmly received locally. The marketing material, floor signage, and staff uniforms all lean into the branding — it feels genuine rather than gimmicky.
The Derwent Seafood Restaurant, positioned on the mid-level with the best Derwent River views in the complex, is the dining highlight of any Wrest Point visit. Tasmania's seafood supply chain is among the finest in the world — Tasmanian Atlantic salmon, abalone, scallops from the east coast, oysters from Port Huon — and the kitchen uses it with appropriate reverence and skill.
The seafood chowder is a permanent fixture and arguably the finest version of the dish available anywhere in Australia. The whole baked flathead with Tasmanian butter and sea herbs has been on the menu since the early days of the renovation and shows no sign of being rotated off, to the relief of our team.
The wine list focuses exclusively on Tasmanian and Victorian producers with a small but excellent selection of aged Pinot Noir from the Tamar Valley. Whisky drinkers will appreciate the bar's collection of Tasmanian single malt, which has grown significantly over the past few years as the island's whisky industry has matured.
Wrest Point's Pookie Lounge is the best version of Tasmania's most historically significant gaming venue. The 2025 renovation has been executed with sensitivity to the building's character while delivering genuine improvements across every dimension — gaming, dining, views, and atmosphere. For anyone visiting Hobart, this is the gaming venue to make time for.