New era ushered in for historic Claremont House

CLAREMONT House is almost fully restored and ready to open as a hotel and restaurant.

Joel Van Sanden is the owner and is renovating Claremont House for accomodation and a restaurant.

IT has been more than eight years in the making, but the National Estate-listed Claremont House is almost fully restored and ready to open as a hotel and restaurant.

Joel Van Sanden has owned and lived in the 1839-built property since 2007 and has completed restoration of most of the 33 room building, exceeding his $1.5m budget along the way.

Mr Van Sanden said the new Bilton’s Restaurant, in the old grand ballroom, would be up and running by the end of October, when all approvals were signed off, including liquor licensing.

Planning approval has already been granted by the Hobart City Council.

In terms of accommodation, 10 of the 12 bedrooms will be available, with the remaining two used for upstairs dining.

Three rooms — the Maid’s, Lady Clark and Tower room, which has a spa and sauna — have all been completed and are all booked this weekend. All that remains to be completed is the Darling Room as well as four other rooms destined to become “cheaper” accommodation at the rear of the house.

Mr Van Sanden estimates they will be ready by January or February.

The restaurant will serve Tasmanian fare.

He has run tours around the house since July 2012 but is excited about the prospect of running a hotel and restaurant, serving Tasmanian fare.

“It’s been challenging and it’s had some ups and downs but I think I get the most enjoyment from the tours when people recognise the work we have done here,” he said.

Mr Van Sanden lives in the servants’ quarters, which will also be refurbished from their original 1840 design.

“I fell in love with the house when I first saw it, I saw the tower and came and had a look and made an offer,” he said.

The original Claremont House was built as a four-room Georgian home by Henry Bilton, who was warden of Glenorchy from 1868 to 1874. For further details visit their website.