[bbfan1991]

An Australian businessman has revealed plans to turn a disused morgue into a unique hotel.

The morgue has been empty for over a decade and is located in Tasmania, reports ABS-CBN News.



The building - which previously housed the bodies of mentally-ill patients - has been disused since the Willow Court historic colonial-era mental hospital was closed down.

Owner Hadyn Pearce hopes to reopen the morgue as a hotel offering 'autopsy slabs' as a place for tourists to rest.

"It's still got its terrazzo slabs, and it's still got its pull-out fridge, it's a beautiful thing," he said.

Pearce continued: "We'll be looking at putting a double bed in one of the rooms and then we have three slabs and two pull-out fridges which could be used."

The businessman hopes the hotel will be a success but admitted that he will soon "find out" if tourists see the appeal.

He has already opened a motel using an on-site asylum, converted a Victorian-era "idiots" ward into an antiques store, and turned the nurses' quarters into speciality shops.

Pearce said that guests react differently to staying in the converted asylum.

"You have the odd person who freaks out when they sort of walk in the door and run off, but the majority are pretty good," he said, adding: "It's a beautiful historic place."