The creative team at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) will help shape public spaces in a waterfront redevelopment it has dubbed "Hobart's Sydney Opera House moment".

MONA has been hired by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation to provide a concept for the site's large public space.

The area makes up 40 per cent of the nine-hectare Macquarie Point redevelopment site on the River Derwent waterfront in Hobart, which includes the old railway yards.

MONA's creative director Leigh Carmichael said it was an exciting collaboration that came about after the success of Dark Mofo in the same space, which has included the festival's giant fire organ.

He said the city needed a unique area that could be enjoyed by locals and tourists.

"This is a big statement but it's potentially Hobart's Sydney Opera House moment, so I think that's the opportunity that lies ahead, so let's see what we can make of it," he said.

"The most important thing for us now is to get down there and have a look at the site and try and understand it, and then we'll go away and do some whiteboard sessions to see what we can come up with."

Mr Carmichael said it was an exciting opportunity and the plan was to deliver something unique.

"I think the relationship started during Dark Mofo when we activated the site and had 76,000 people go through over 10 days," he said.

"Obviously that was a successful event with a wide demographic of people.

"So I think from that was born a good working relationship and we are both keen to see what else can come of it.

"Our starting point is what we believe Hobart needs as a city trying not to duplicate anything we already have. I do think Hobart needs a space where a large number of people can gather for community-style events.

"It's a simple brief at this point but I think the words unconventional and boundary-pushing were part of that."