Set on 64 hectares of pristine land near the historic town of Hagley, this stately homestead is the perfect blend of modern comfort and old-world charm. Built in the 1830s by Richard Dry, a former Irish political prisoner who was transported to Tasmania, local legend says his wife attracted the attention of the governor who offered to give her husband as much land as she could ride around in a day. By changing horses at stationed intervals and galloping, she was able to gain over 30,000 acres. Dry’s son later went on to become the state’s first Tasmanian-born Premier, earning Quamby Estate a reputation as Tasmania’s ‘Government House of the North’.
The homestead took nearly 10 years to complete, using local timber and handcut sandstone, and is a rare example of Anglo-Indian architecture, inspired by the English army’s stationing in India at the time of its construction. Today, the Estate has been transformed into a luxurious lodge by the Anthology Group. Visitors enter the vast grounds along a long red gravel driveway lined with stunning hawthorn, poplar and elm trees, many of which were planted well over 150 years ago. With its manicured lawns and old-fashioned rose gardens, the grounds resemble a quaint English parkland, and offer spectacular views of the Great Western Tiers and Ben Lomond Range.
The building has been restored by well-known Tasmanian heritage architect David Denman and interior designers Pike Withers in keeping with the original homestead, and now boasts 15 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, each with queen-size beds, modern ensuites and flat-screen televisions. Inside, the reception rooms are spacious with grand black and white Italian marble fi replaces, and high ceilings with true-to-period decorative cornices. Th e drawing, dining and billiards rooms are decorated in fresh, modern tones of green, blue and cream, and have a sharp contemporary edge with brightly coloured silk cushions and pretty, sheer curtains.
Elegant eight-panelled French doors open to flagstoned verandahs with traditional timber columns and decorative balustrades. Other original features include a three-room cellar that served as quarters for the male convicts and timber shutters that screen the windows from inside, which were built to keep out bushrangers. The lower level also has a refurbished kitchen, where you can sample homemade biscuits and cakes, tea and coff ee, and local wines from the Tamar Valley, as well as a library, games room and a small conservatory, with a passage through to a walled herb garden.
In addition, the Estate is home to a number of heritage-listed outbuildings, incorporating the original manager’s home and office, a blacksmith’s workshop, stables, a granary and a shearing shed – all reminders of its early agricultural history. Guests are welcome to explore the buildings, take a stroll around the lovely gardens or play a game of tennis on the huge court next to the main house. But Quamby’s main attraction is its private nine-hole golf course. Built in the early 1990s, its fairways and greens are dotted with pretty trees, lakes, creeks and bunkers made from pure white Scottsdale sand. Suitable for players of all skill levels, the course can be enjoyed all year round and has its own clubhouse, located in the original 1850s Estate Manager’s office and home, where you can hire clubs and caddies, or simply enjoy a quiet drink at the bar.
You certainly won’t go hungry at Quamby where meals are a gourmet experience, showcasing fresh, local produce sourced from nearby farms and villages. A stay at the Estate includes a continental breakfast, which off ers fresh juice, poached fruit, locally made yoghurt, plunger or espresso coffee, hot chocolate, croissants, pastries, and bread with homemade jam. Two-course dinners are served every night, with a choice of two mains and two desserts on offer. Gracing the menu are dishes such as Rack of Lamb with Butternut Pumpkin Puree and Rosemary Butter, and Free range Spatchcock Chicken with Roasted Vegetables, as well as a selection of Tasmanian cheeses.
Visitors can also enjoy the range of award-winning restaurants in Launceston, which is just a 20-minute drive away. For those wishing to explore this city and its surrounding areas, Quamby is the perfect place to stay, or perhaps to visit before a guided walk to the Cradle Mountain Huts and Bay of Fires, which departs from the old Georgian-style stables. The Estate is also close to the historic townships of Deloraine and Westbury, which boast many arts and crafts, and antiques shops, and are less than an hour from the vineyards of the Tamar Valley. Why not sample the local Tasmanian produce, including wine, cheeses, honey and jams; visit National Rose Garden at Woolmers Estate in Longford; or take a ride on the world’s longest single-span chairlift at Cataract Gorge?
Quamby also offers packages with River Fly Tasmania, where you can learn how to fly-fish in Tasmania’s well-known rivers and lakes, or take a Cliff and Cave Tour that allows you to explore the beauty of the Marakoopa Caves, enjoying a gourmet lunch in the rainforest before heading to one of Tasmania’s best lookouts,
the Alum Cliffs. Quamby Estate is only 25 minutes’ drive from Launceston Airport and can be reached either via the Bass Highway or Meander Valley Highway between Launceston and Deloraine, making it a great place to stay when travelling around Tasmania. In fact, Quamby is Aboriginal for ‘a place to camp, settle down and rest’, so if you need to relax and unwind, make it your next holiday destination.
Quamby Estate
1145 Westwood Road, Hagley Tasmania, 7292
Phone: (03) 6392 2211
Email: reservations@quambyestate.com
www.quambyestate.com
Story by Lauren Broomham
Photography by Anthology – The Traveller’s Collection