Mures Tasmania: 50+ years of seafood
Any Tasmanian will tell you that Mures is synonymous with delicious, fresh local seafood. That is because ours is a story which has only ever had one foot on dry land at a time, the other remains firmly at sea. Our business is built on the back of a boat, and it was indeed a boat that bought founders George & Jill Mure sail from London to the Australian shore in 1962.
A Legacy of Fishing & Hospitality.
George Mure had grown up cultivating a love for sea life and fishing through his experiences at boarding school in Kenya, which defined the rest of his life. Despite attempting to complete a medical degree, George always knew that his future would be in the fishing industry. Jill Baker was the daughter of the manager at Scotts, which had – and still has – a reputation for being one of the finest seafood restaurants in Britain. It was this unique combination of their respective knowledge about the ocean and the restaurant industry that formed the foundation of the enterprise now known as Mures Tasmania.
Mures Fish House.
In 1973 George & Jill opened the original Mures Fish House in a small Victoria cottage at the heart of Hobart’s historic Battery Point. When they struggled to source quality, fresh, local seafood, they built the15 meter fast fishing vessel Melicent, and George went fishing. Spending three days a week at sea catching fish for his customers and three in the restaurant running double shifts, George began what we refer to as our “hook-to-plate” philosophy. This dynamic pair went on to pioneer Australia’s first commercial mussel farm at Margate, and developed the Blue Eye Trevalla fishery into a year-round operation, cementing this species status a local favourite that remains one of the state’s most beloved and sought-after species.
Mures Fish Centre on the Hobart Waterfront.
In 1985 the Government commissioned a well-known firm of mainland architects to submit an overall plan for the development of Hobart’s Sullivan Cove. At a site that was originally the home of some retired apple sheds right on the dockside, George & Jill seized the opportunity to open a Mures establishment in this prime location. They launched themselves into this venture which saw them research, design and build the complex known as Mures Fish Centre, which opened in 1987 on Victoria Dock in Hobart. George and Jill’s children, Will (and wife Jude) and Sarah (with husband Rick), then began to take on their own roles within Mures Fish Centre. In 1993 the business purchased the Kiella, a 16-meter fishing boat which Will Mure went on to skipper for over ten years. Like his parents had been before him, Will was passionate about the long-term future of the seafood he handled and has worked with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) for over three decades to establish many of the practices which are now enforced by them.
Mures Tasmania Today.
Today, some 50+ years since Mures Fish House opened in Battery Point, Will and Jude Mure are the current driving force behind the business known now as Mures Tasmania. Their children Eve, Wilson and Jock now also hold significant positions within the business, making them the third generation to contribute to the growth and development of the company. Mures currently incorporates:
Two custom-built fishing vessels, Diana & Selkie
Four seafood venues on Victoria Dock all offering their own unique dining style: Mures Lower Deck, Upper Deck, Kelp Bar, and Pearl + Co
Mures Fishing processing facility in Cambridge
A seafood wholesale division
Gourmet seafood product range
Exclusive wine range
Mures Fish School – an educational program for primary school students of all ages on the importance of sustainability and oceanic welfare
Mures Run Club - a free, weekly social event for the general public, encouraging wellness & community
Premium Seafood Dining on the Hobart Waterfront.
The central heart of Mures Tasmania remains at the Fish Centre complex on Victoria dock. The centre has seen many different ventures come and go under its roof, but at its core the building has always been a venue dedicated to hospitality and local seafood, having developed into an icon that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals each year. Located near Hobart’s major cruise ship terminal, Mures prime location on the Hobart waterfront means that we are privileged to be the first experience that many national and international travellers have of our local seafood produce. This is a responsibility that we embrace with enthusiasm and pride, and over the years we have continued to develop the Fish Centre in such a way that we can marry place and produce into one unforgettable experience. From structural changes that have maximised the potential of our waterfront vista, to establishing ongoing contracts with inbound tourism organisations, our venue is intrinsically tied to the promotion of the Tasmanian experience.
Mures Award Wining Experiences.
Our commitment has been continually recognised over the years. Mures proudest achievements include the 2019 Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council Awards, in which the business won the Primary Producer Award (Mures Fishing) Best Large Enterprise Awards (Mures Tasmania), Judges Choice for Best Fish & Chips (Mures Lower Deck) and the prestigious Industry Ambassador Award which was presented to the entire Mure Family. In 2021 & 2022 Mures won the Tasmanian Tourism Award for Tourism Restaurants & Catering Service, and then further achieved national Gold and Bronze in the national Australian Tourism Awards for their respective years. Most notably, at the Australian Seafood Industry Awards in 2022, Pearl + Co restaurant achieved the award for Seafood Restaurant of the Year, and the Mure Family was inducted into the National Seafood Industry Hall of Fame.
Our business still carries on the traditions and ethos created by George & Jill, and the newer generations have embraced the continual growth and diversification of Mures. We still catch the freshest fish to serve in our restaurants, and through our wholesale division we also supply 200+ retailers, distributors, and restaurants with fresh fish. Mures proudly remains a vertically integrated, Tasmanian family business, offering sustainable, local, seafood from hook to plate.