Inside Tasmania’s mega mansions and grandest homes
They’re some of the state’s grandest homes and though they come with eye-watering price tags, these stunning Tassie mansions are sure to impress. PHOTOS + HOW MUCH THEY’RE WORTH >>
Tasmania
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THEY are some of the state’s grandest homes and although they come with eye-watering price tags, these stunning Tassie mansions are sure to impress.
The Mercury takes a look at some of Tasmania’s most stunning homes, including some that are currently on the market waiting to find their next owner.
10 Coolamon Rd, Taroona
- 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- For sale: Offers over $2.65 million
This six-bedroom, two-bathroom stunner is set on four hectares in the hills of Taroona, and is known as Bradbury Hall Estate.
Built in about 1947, the property features impressive views of the River Derwent.
The home is currently on the market for offers over $2.65 million and listing agent Simon Purdon, of Ray White Hobart, said the heritage-listed property was a special one.
“It’s a grand home, on probably one of the last remaining substantial pieces of land close to the Hobart CBD,’’ he said.
“It’s an amazing position given it’s on 10 acres, to have a large block that close to the city and to have big commanding views, it’s a pretty special spot.
“It was built in 1947 and the owners have spent the last three or so years restoring it, and it’s magnificent.”
Mr Purdon said the zoning allowed for the property to be used as a family home or run as a business and in a past life, it had been utilised as a bed and breakfast.
“It would also make a fantastic function centre if someone was wanting to do something like that,’’ he said.
Mr Purdon said he had launched the property for sale about six months ago and it was currently under offer by an interstate family who were looking to relocate and use it as a family home.
43 High St, East Launceston
- 8 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms
- Currently for sale, contact agent for price. Last sold in 2011 for $1.265 million
A renowned property in the state’s North, Hatherley House is rich with history with the heritage features conserved amid a comprehensive renovation.
The historic property has been home to many esteemed colonial families since 1827 including Charles Shum Henty, a pioneering family in Tasmania and Victoria who the first brought merino wool to the country, Henry Dowling who was one of the first Aldermen of Launceston and Frederick Grubb, who was a major shareholders of the Beaconsfield gold mine in northern Tasmania.
After intergenerational family ownership the Grubbs sold the house in the 1930s to C. K. Stakehouse — a cousin of Percy Grubb.
Hatherley House is renowned as one of the finest examples of Tuscan Italianate architecture in the country.
It is listed on the National Estate Register and the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
The 11th and current owners Jack and Rebecca Birrelli have worked on many Tasmanian heritage properties as architects and interpretation consultants over the past three decades.
Listing agent Jessica Bryant, of Harrison Agents, said the home had been restored to its former glory by the vendor who is a heritage architect.
“It was converted back to a home from an accommodation … they have done a full restoration,” she said.
“It’s one of the last of its kind in Australia in the condition it’s in. There’s all original features, it’s heritage listed and a large parcel of land.”
Ms Bryant said there had been strong interest from prospective buyers from mainland Australia and overseas.
She said the property would be featured on an upcoming show on Foxtel hosted by Deborah Hutton.
12351 Midland Hwy, Conara
9 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
This fascinating property near Campbell Town is known as the “Disappearing House”, as new owner Dominic Romeo, of Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists, explained.
Mr Romeo said he bought the nine-bedroom property last year off market over the phone unseen, and settled on it four weeks ago.
Built in 1838, he said most Tasmanians would know the house, which was a three-storey Georgian home which began as a house and then an inn until the 1870s when it reverted to become a private house.
“The ‘Disappearing House’ earned its name by the illusion of its sinking into the ground as travellers approached along the main road from Hobart to Launceston, due to the peculiar conformation of the landscape,’’ he said.
“On the old road the house would ‘vanish’ as you descended one hill, the other seemed to rise up in front of you and the house would ‘disappear’ behind it.
“Then as you ascended the next small hill, it would miraculously reappear.”
Mr Romeo said he and his wife were keen restorers of homes and the Disappearing House was their 14th project and first Tasmanian restoration.
He said he was an agent specialising in the sale of historic homes, particularly in Tasmania and Victoria.
6 Bridge Street, New Norfolk
- 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms
- Price: Contact agent
An opportunity to own award-winning The Woodbridge in the Derwent Valley currently awaits prospective buyers.
The property underwent an extensive renovation and has been operating since 2006 as one of Tasmania’s finest five-star boutique hotels.
The historic Georgian building of 1000 square metres was originally a private residence, convict built in 1825 for Captain Roadknight for the sum of 1000 pounds.
It features impressive views over the River Derwent and mountains of Mt Field National Park in the distance.
There are nine deluxe suites and bedrooms, and agent Dominic Romeo believes the present building appeared to have been constructed in three, four or possibly five stages.
The first stage is believed to have included the main three-level octagonal tower, with the two storey wings on either side.
The Woodbridge caters for weddings, private functions and conferences.
7-13 Newcastle St, Battery Point
- 10 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms
- Sold for $3.57 million
The iconic mansion Beaumaris House was sold last year to interstate buyers who moved to Tasmania to make the 16-room, triple-level property their home.
The palatial Battery Point home was sold for $3,575,000 which was above its listed price at offers over $3.5 million.
Construction of Beaumaris started in the 1870s and the property features formal living rooms, eight bedrooms, most with ensuites and a feature commonly referred to at “the tower” which provides a 360-degree view across Hobart.
Beaumaris also has a three-bedroom cottage and impressive gardens.
1 Brisbane St, Launceston
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms
- For sale: Asking price $3,500,000
The historic Launceston mansion known as Glenfruin is on the market again after it sold in 2018 for what was a record sale price for the city at $3.25 million.
The 1880s-built mansion, featuring four bedrooms, placed it among Tasmania’s largest sales of that year.
Set on a large floorplan at 458 sqm and on 1500 sqm of land, the property features everything from hydronic heating to underfloor insulation, double-glazing, LED lighting, video security and pin-coded entry.
It is currently listed for sale for $3.5 million.
1-3 Malunnah Close, Devonport
- 11 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
- For sale: Asking price $2.95 million
Malunnah is considered to be one of the most impressive properties in the Devonport area, and has recently undergone major renovations and upgrades while retaining original character.
Stunning water views can be enjoyed from the heritage-listed property, positioned on more than 5600 square metres of land in a quiet cul-de-sac off Victoria Parade.
High ceilings and the grand staircase are among the eye-catching features of the property, which features up to 11 bedrooms, three kitchens, six bathrooms and two laundries.
It is currently for sale by agents Amanda and Fred of Roberts Real Estate Ulverstone for $2.95 million.
9 Wentworth St, Bothwell
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Sold on January 29, 2020 for $1,500,000
Wentworth House, sold early last year, is one of the most elaborate houses in Bothwell and a building unique in Australia.
Now known as Wentworth House, its original name was Inverhall, under the ownership of Major D’Arcy Wentworth.
In 1834, under the ownership of Charles Schaw, it was named Schawfield, and later between 1844-1854, Bothwell House and back to Inverhall on the 1860s.
The grand home is considered one of the best examples of a one-and-a-half-storey house in Australia.
It was originally built in two sections of 24 rooms linked by a covered passageway to the domestic wing and courtyard rooms, but the wing was demolished by the Church of England during the 1860s or 1870s because it was too expensive to maintain.
Wentworth House is considered one of Australia’s most important historic country houses, because its characteristics of a sandstone Old Colonial Georgian rural homestead and its importance to the community’s sense of place.
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