Wedding Venue Collapse Leaves Couples Struggling to Reorganize
Hidden Garden Estate in Berriedale, Tasmania, has entered liquidation, leaving 48 couples forced to rethink their wedding plans. The venue was notified by Glenorchy City Council for breaching its home business permit.
Council’s Notice and Restrictions
On Friday, November 7, couples received an email titled “Sad” explaining the situation. They were initially offered three options:
- Proceed with weddings under new, strict permit conditions
- Postpone to a later date
- Cancel and receive a full refund
The new permit conditions were harsh. Owner Diane Burrows was the only person permitted to conduct ceremonies, guest numbers were limited to 60, and only two vendors were allowed onsite. The notice clarified:
“DJ, photo booth, live music, wedding planners, event hire suppliers and similar services are all classified as vendors.”
Closure and Liquidation
Couples had until close of business on Monday, November 10, to choose their preferred course of action. By that afternoon, the estate confirmed permanent closure and entry into liquidation.
Owners Shan Strus and Diane Burrows stated that the council's strict demands pressured many couples into canceling their plans, which ultimately forced the business to close.
“The authority initiating stringent terms that effectively caused couples to vote for refunds, has forced us to close the business,” they said.
Attempts to seek leniency from the council were unsuccessful.
Summary
The closure of Hidden Garden Estate left many couples scrambling, as council permit breaches and harsh conditions forced cancellations and liquidation.