Evandale’s Leighton House transformed into farm stay
It was pivotal to the state’s equine industry for 200 years, but now Evandale’s Leighton House has been transformed into a farm stay. See how the 1840s cottage has changed.
Tasmania
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A property pivotal to the state’s equine industry for 200 years – and the home of Tasmania’s only Melbourne Cup winner – has been lovingly transformed into a farm stay.
Hamish Campbell moved to Leighton House at Evandale when he was 13 and now he and his wife Genevieve have restored the 1840s cottage that has been in his family for 40 years, and added a new wing built with bricks made at Longford.
Ms Campbell, who has worked in tourism and hospitality in Sydney for 20 years, says she has always been inspired by beautiful places to stay.
“I wanted to create a contemporary farm stay experience for Tasmanians, mainlanders and people from around the world to enjoy and use as their base to explore northern Tasmania,” she said.
“We are really looking forward to sharing our slice of what makes Tasmania special and why we love it so much.”
In the 1800s draft horses were bred from the property and sent interstate and Melbourne Cup winner Piping Lane was bred there.
The Campbell family arrived in Tasmania from Scotland, first settling as Presbyterian ministers on the East Cast before establishing the church at Oatlands and later heading to Nant in Bothwell before settling in the Northern Midlands.
Mr Campbell, who still runs an equine feed business he started with his late father Ian, said Hobart based Architects Core Collective and builder Inhabit had “done a magnificent job in bringing together old and new in an elegant way”.
“Leighton has always had beautiful bones and it is so lovely to see how beautifully she has come up,” he said.
“It was important to restore the original home to her former glory.
“We removed additions that were not part of the original 1800s build and then lightly added the new building with a glass atrium and internal courtyard so there is a clear definition of old and new and they complement each other rather than take away from each other.
“The colour scheme draws inspiration from the vivid blues and greens of the Tasmanian landscape,
“I have now lived in Sydney for 30 years but there is nothing like returning home to the fresh air and magical light that is unique to our State.”
The bricks for the new building were chosen for “their sustainable and geothermal qualities” from a quarry at nearby Longford and Mr Campbell said the raw colours sit well with the landscape, especially at dusk.
The farm stay can accommodate from two to 12 guests and Ms Campbell said as well as offering “a slice of luxury for everyone” it also was family friendly.
“We’ve preserved history, championed sustainability, and our passion for Australian contemporary art has informed every decision in the restoration and renovation of Leighton House,” she said.
The property sits on 300 acres of farmland and is home to 15 horses, 100 Angus cows, hares, rabbits and chickens.
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