Is this Hobart’s cutest historic property?
Lovingly restored from its 1857 origins, this South Hobart cottage oozes character and charm. Thanks to the retention of many original features guests are transported to 19th century Hobart
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If it had not been for the modern kitchen and bathroom, stepping into the award-winning Little Brick Cottage would have felt like going back in time to the 19th Century.
Constructed in 1857 and originally used as workers’ accommodation, the cottage is on one of the busiest roads in Hobart.
Near the dividing point where Macquarie St turns into Cascade Rd, Little Brick is a stone’s throw away from the Hobart CBD.
Tourist attractions such as the Cascade Brewery and the female factory are also within walking distance, while the cottage is situated in a suburb that is one of the closest entry points to kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
It has the advantage of being away from the traffic and occasional chaos of the Hobart CBD, but it is also central enough to visit all the city’s tourist attractions without spending too much time in the car.
Those wanting a bite to eat or a caffeine hit can get their fix across the road at Bear with Me cafe or take a short stroll to Ginger Brown – along with many other food and drink options within walking distance of the cottage.
And if you want to whip up a meal in the modern kitchen at the Little Brick Cottage, the residence is next to a Hill Street Grocer.
Despite undertaking an extensive renovation the owners have managed to retain many of the property’s classic original features such as the thick floorboards, staircase, exposed bricks and fireplace.
The only new section of the house is the kitchen and bathroom to the rear of the property, decked out with the latest appliances in the style of new-world modern minimalism.
The kitchen leads out to a neat, private courtyard, which features a path to a seating area where guests can relax and enjoy the fresh South Hobart air.
The master bedroom features a queen bed and plenty of storage space for the traveller who has packed not-so-light.
Upstairs, in an attic-style room, there are three single beds, largely unchanged from when the house was first built in the 19th century.
With no television in the house, stepping into the cottage feels almost like stepping back into a period when there were fewer distractions and life was much more straightforward.
When you spend time in certain sections of the cottage – especially the upstairs attic – it is hard to believe that, apart from the furniture, it is basically unchanged from the 1850s, when it used to house workers.
Little Brick Cottage owner Andrew Gelman said that when he and his partner purchased the property in 2021, much work needed to be done before opening it up to visitors.
“Like all of those workers’ cottages that were built in that sort of time period, it was very dark, moist and cold,” Andrew says.
“So when we decided to renovate it, adding as much light as possible was our brief to the architect – hence the new addition with all of the glazed walls.”
Andrew says there was also a great deal of restoration work involved in the property’s refurbishment.
“A lot of the brickwork is handmade from that period, so we had to do a lot of cleaning of the bricks as well as sealing them, so that they didn’t degrade anymore,” he says.
“We also had to restump the floor because it was originally laid straight onto dirt ... the poor builder had to dig out so much dirt from that living room before we could raise the floor and make it level.
“We’ve also had to add lots of insulation because we didn’t really have any.”
The back section of the cottage, which features the kitchen and bathroom, is mostly entirely new.
“The back has a really good energy rating with the new slab and the double glazing,” Andrew says.
“We contacted the heritage people to advise us on what was going to be in keeping with the original cottage to ensure we were respectful of that section of the building.”
Andrew described the property as unique.
“The actual fabric of the building – those handmade bricks – are a massive part of it for us, hence the title Little Brick Cottage,” he says.
“The imperfection of it all was just a really beautiful thing.”
The property also features many handmade objects.
“We’ve incorporated lots of Tasmanian-made ceramics, art and other things like that,” Andrew says.
“We had the desire to keep the building looking as original and handmade as possible, and then with the new additions, we wanted them as clean and beautifully crafted as possible.”
Andrew says the property had been well received by guests.
“People have genuinely loved it, and all the reviews have been five stars.”
The Little Brick Cottage has also won multiple awards.
It took out the prestigious Master Builders Tasmania Awards for Excellence 2024 in the renovation and addition category in the $200,000 to $400,000 range.
It also won the 2024 Architeam Award for residential alterations and additions up to $700,000.
Sitting in the cottage’s living room, surrounded by the original 1850s bricks and without distractions such as television, one really does feel like they are being transported back to a simpler time.
However, comfort and the modern amenities that most people are accustomed to in 2025 have not been sacrificed for the transportive nature of the house.
With the sounds of the traffic buzzing along Macquarie St almost inaudible, the Little Brick Cottage truly feels like an escape from the often hectic modern world.
The author was a guest of Little Brick Cottage
MAKE A NOTE:
Little Brick Cottage is located in Macquarie St, South Hobart
Accommodation in the two-bedroom house, which can sleep up to five people, is about $250 per night (a cleaning fee of $140, which is charged regardless of how many nights are booked, is also required).
There is a two-night minimum stay.
There is free on-street parking.
No pets are allowed.
Bookings can be made through Airbnb, Booking.com or directly through Little City Group (0457 691 868).
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