Black Snake Inn: Former owner says he had ‘little choice’ but to sell to Tasmanian government

The former owner of a historic Tasmanian property says he had little choice but to sell it to the state government, despite having lived there for half a century.

George Burrows at his old property, which comprised the historic Black Snake Inn, in 2011. Pictured in the background is the Bridgewater Bridge.

The former owner of the historic Black Snake Inn at Granton feels he was given little choice but to sell the 19th century gothic gem to the state government in order to make way for the new Bridgewater Bridge.

George Burrows, 81, had owned the heritage-listed inn for 55 years when he put it on the market three years ago after learning that the government could compulsorily acquire parts of the 1.4ha property to allow for the construction of the $786m bridge and connecting roads.

One of Australia’s first ferry inns, the Black Snake Inn used to provide shelter and lodging to people travelling up, down, and across the Derwent River.

A building has occupied the site since at least 1811, with the current Victorian Rustic Gothic inn believed to date back to 1833. It closed about 1883 and has served at various times as a convalescent home, orchard, road house, and private residence.

Mr Burrows advertised the inn via an expressions of interest process in 2021 and the government ultimately bought it for $2.65m.

George Burrows outside the Black Snake Inn in 2017. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

He told the Mercury he had already endured a long and drawn-out compulsory acquisition process when the Brooker Hwy was extended to Granton and the Bridgewater Bridge in 1983.

Mr Burrows said while he was not “cornered” into selling the property, he felt he “didn’t really have much choice” due to the fact he was in his 80s and lacked the energy and willpower to fight the bureaucracy after more than two decades of uncertainty and angst over the long-delayed Bridgewater Bridge replacement.

“It had been my intention to be literally carried out in a Huon pine box, as long as it’s waterproof, and to be given a viking’s funeral out on the river in front,” he said.

According to Mr Burrows, he was visited by representatives from the State Growth Department in 2021, shown the plans for the new bridge, and told that about 3000 sq/m of his property would be compulsorily acquired.

George Burrows surrounded by his Cornishware collection in his old kitchen at the Black Snake Inn in 2017. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

He said that if he’d known earlier the impact that the bridge project would have on his property, he would have “seriously considered moving on then” but held out based on undertakings from the government.

“The impact on my property was not only very significant but, importantly, could not be clearly stated by the project manager as it was changing by the month,” Mr Burrows said.

A contractor has been awarded a $430,000 government tender to undertake heritage restoration works at the Black Snake Inn, with the property boundaries set to be changed in light of new roadways being built.

The government then plans to sell the rest of the property, including the old inn, through a competitive market process “to maximise a return to taxpayers”, a State Growth spokesman said.

George Burrows outside the Black Snake Inn in 2011.

“Throughout 2020 and 2021, as designs for the new bridge progressed, the department engaged regularly with Mr Burrows to give him as much information as possible about the impacts to his properties on Main Road, Granton,” the spokesman said.

“During this time, discussions with Mr Burrows included the potential for partial compulsory acquisition of land within his property, noting there wasn’t enough certainty on the extent to proceed with acquisition at that time.

“Given the entire area wasn’t required, the department did not have grounds to compulsorily acquire the properties in full.”

Originally published as Black Snake Inn: Former owner says he had ‘little choice’ but to sell to Tasmanian government