Villa Franklin Tasmania
Observe the surrounding valley through the prism of this deftly designed, award-winning house of glass, timber and stone.
As a regular visitor to Tasmania’s Huon Valley, I’ve long appreciated its forested peaks, bountiful orchards and tannin-tinged waterways. I’ve done so from the vantage point of cars, kayaks, small aircraft and humble verandas. But I’ve never observed the valley through the prism of a super-luxe residence such as Villa Franklin.
On a bone-chilling winter’s day I’m luxuriating with a beer in hand in a 35C spa bath on the terrace, admiring the meandering river below and the majestic slopes beyond. Situated just outside the picturesque town of the same name, this deftly designed, award-winning house of glass, timber and stone envelops you in a tranquil cocoon on arrival.
Originally unveiled as a private home in 2015, the airy abode has been available to rent since earlier this year as part of the Villa Talia portfolio. A large set of Tasmanian oak doors opens to an expansive living zone with tasteful furnishings, snazzy kitchen and jazzy artworks, including a vibrant painting by Indigenous artist Lawrence Jangala Watson.
American white oak floors, an Italian slate feature wall and wood cabinetry create warmth and rich texture. From the Miele appliances to the Dyson hair dryers, cashmere blankets to the high-powered telescope, the fittings are all impeccable. Plants add a homely touch, while the modular couch is roomy enough for me and my two kids.
Still, it’s hard to compete with views of the Sleeping Beauty mountain range, the outline of which resembles a slumbering sylph. The living room’s double-glazed bi-fold doors perfectly frame the vista, but it can be admired from many of the rooms throughout.
The bedrooms are equipped with comfortable beds, sleek furnishings and plush linens. The master bedroom has a freestanding tub exquisitely positioned to soak up the views.
One of the home’s other attractions is its children’s wing, a separate arm of the dwelling where my teenagers quickly take up residence. Soon enough the kids are plunging into the spa, and I’m not far behind them. We have been warned that the adjacent lap pool is unheated but one of the kids tries it out anyway, rushing back to the warm end at an Olympic clip.
From our watery perch, wrens and ravens fly overhead and Scottish Highlander cows graze below. The silky surface of the Huon is occasionally broken by passing boats leaving complex geometric patterns in their wakes.
There is no shortage of attractions in this neck of the woods, both natural (forests, caves, hot springs, mountains) and man-made (cider, wine, farm-grown produce and fine dining). But we opt to linger in luxury rather than roam in rusticity. On arrival, we discovered baskets of fine Tasmanian wine, cheese, fruit and local produce as welcome gifts.
As at any rental home, an early challenge is to decode the technology of Villa Franklin. Many of the lights, as well as the strategically located speakers, are controlled via an iPad. As a result, there are a few Rowan Atkinson-style Man vs Bee moments. At first even my tech-intuitive 15-year-old is puzzled, but we master it eventually.
It is the simple things that we appreciate most during our stay: card games in front of the indoor gas fire; roasting chestnuts on the terrace’s wood-fire as dusk descends; enjoying the quiet seclusion of our eyrie and its surrounding 4ha.
An adjacent building houses a gym and office, which strikes me as a sound idea, allowing both exercise and work – if they must be attempted – to be conducted without contaminating the serenity of other guests.
Hosts George and Vivian Luo keep a respectful distance, but they or their staff are only a phone call away should anything be required. Arriving in Tasmania from China in 2005, the avid couple completed several degrees, worked at various jobs and raised two children. Their first move into luxury accommodation was Villa Talia, a polished property in Wattle Grove, near Cygnet, open to guests since late 2019. Villa Franklin, conceived by Hobart architects DW+A, followed in March this year.
“The vision is for a collection of self-contained, high-end properties at the standard of five-star hotels but with the comforts of a real home,” George explains. It’s a vision informed by the travel-loving couple’s own difficulties in finding luxury digs that welcome children. “We really want the homes to be family-friendly,” George adds. “So that guests can share wonderful moments with their nearest and dearest.”
Matthew Denholm was a guest of Villa Talia and Tourism Tasmania.