Wedding venue collapse leaves 48 couples scrambling to salvage big day

Wedding Venue Collapse Leaves 48 Couples in Limbo

A beloved Tasmanian event location, Hidden Garden Estate in Berriedale, has entered liquidation after being found in breach of its home business permit, leaving 48 couples rushing to save their wedding plans.

The venue informed affected couples by email on Friday, November 7, that the Glenorchy City Council had notified them the previous day about the permit violations. The message, titled “Sad,” offered three choices: to continue with new limitations, postpone the wedding, or cancel and request a full refund.

Stringent New Restrictions

The updated terms imposed by the council were described as severe. Only owner Diane Burrows was allowed to perform ceremonies, guest counts could not exceed 60, and only two vendors were permitted on the grounds.

“DJ, photo booth, live music, wedding planners, event hire suppliers and similar services are all classified as vendors,” the notice explained.

Couples were required to make their decision by the end of business on Monday, November 10.

Closure and Liquidation

By Monday afternoon, the venue confirmed its permanent closure and entry into liquidation. Owners Shan Strus and Diane Burrows expressed disappointment that council demands had made ongoing operations impossible.

“The authority initiating stringent terms that effectively caused couples to vote for refunds, has forced us to close the business,” they said in a joint statement.

According to the owners, their request for a temporary reprieve from the council was denied.

Author’s Summary

The Hidden Garden Estate in Tasmania shut down after council permit breaches, leaving dozens of couples without a wedding venue and prompting a wave of community support.

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Pulse Tasmania Pulse Tasmania — 2025-11-10

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