Austin’s Ferry is home to the oldest intact worker’s cottage in Australia, but the national treasure could easily have been lost

The tale of how close Salamanca’s sandstone warehouses came to demolition in the 1960s is legendary, but less is known about the near-loss of another of the oldest worker’s cottage in the country.

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THE tale of how close Salamanca’s sandstone warehouses came to demolition in the 1960s is legendary, but less is known about the near-loss of another heritage gem.

James Austin’s Cottage in the northern Hobart suburb of Austins Ferry is the oldest worker’s cottage in its original state in Australia, dating back to 1812.

It is nothing short of a national treasure, its current caretakers Kaye Green and Louise Kemsley say, but one that would have been lost had the Glenorchy City Council gone ahead with its possible demolition in the 1970s.

The cottage belonged to former convict James Austin, after whom the suburb is named, who established one of the early trans-Derwent ferries.

James Austin's Cottage caretaker Kaye Green in front of the c1812 building. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ms Green said Austin was transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1804 for stealing honey to the value of 30 shillings and six straw beehives worth three shillings.

He was released in 1809 and was granted the land on which the cottage stands in 1813, living in the tiny building until his much grander residence – Roseneath – was finished around 1818.

“Though illiterate, James proved himself to be not only a capable farmer but also an astute businessman,” Ms Green said.

“He owned and operated an inn and a ferry service and attempted to establish other businesses. He died in December 1831 a very wealthy and well known member of the colony.”

The cottage is open to the public from 2-5pm each Sunday, with free entry, and Ms Green encouraged day-trippers to pack a picnic and make a heritage tour of Austins Ferry, either on foot or by car.

Although Roseneath burnt down in the 1967 bushfires, its sandstone foundations remain and there are other buildings of interest including a stone church dating back to 1833.

Ms Green dreams of hosting quoits championships, string quartets and painting workshops in the garden and surrounding park and perhaps even one day re-establishing the local lavender garden, which was once a popular place for Devonshire teas.

“We would love an appropriate garden in order to present a complete heritage experience for visitors. The cottage deserves a lovely garden,” Ms Green said.

With the railway line still running through the suburb, it is also not hard to imagine the return of train journeys to the waterside suburb, which is filled with green parks.

Austin’s cottage was lived in until the 1960s. Luckily, instead of knocking it down in the 1970s due to its dilapidated state, the council restored it to its original state, removing all timber additions and restoring the roof with wooden shingles.

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