Woolmers Estate

The rain had set in overnight and looked like it was going to stay for the rest of the day. Our objective for the day was to find out about Woolmers Estate. This involved going to the Visitor Centre. Called the Gregory Bob Nigel Peck Centre, this serves as reception for the cottages, guided tours, restaurant and gift shop.

It opened at 10:00am, so we drove round (because rain) even though it’s literally at the bottom of the cottage garden. But there’s no way through on foot. We went on the guided tour with Paul, as the only two guests – unsurprising for the time of year and weather conditions. Paul took us through the outbuildings, then into the main house, explaining the history of the family who built it.

Thomas I's bedroom

Marjorie (Mrs Thomas V) redecorated in pink and florals

Two brothers arrived from England and, under the system in place at the time, each established a farm next to each other across a river. Thomas Archer was granted (i.e. given, for free) 800 acres of prime land, allocated 8 convicts on assignment as workers, and the government helped with clearing the land of those pesky people who’d been living there for thousands of years. He named it Woolmers Estate, after a similar estate in his home county of Hertfordshire. Thomas Archer the First (there were six in total, all called Thomas Archer) built the original house in the style of an Indian bungalow – highly inappropriate to the Tasmanian climate. The second phase of building began 20 years later in 1840, and made the house into an Italianate style, with impressive reception rooms, designed by Thomas II.

 

Dining room. Queens Victoria and Elizabeth both dined here 

Marjorie's (Mrs Thomas V) golf clubs

A remedy for snake bites. It doesn't work

Medicine cabinet

Thomas II died of scarlet fever before he could inherit; the house passed to Thomas III, who took little interest in it, and also managed to piss away most of the money. Thomas IV didn’t do much either, and it was under Thomas V the house was restored – principally by his wife, Marjorie, who had the whole place redecorated, plumbing put in, and eventually electricity. It is in her style that the house remains today. For a long period before she arrived the house had stood vacant on the land. The final Thomas, VI, was her only son, and he never married, living in just two rooms in the house and not changing anything in the rest, which is how it comes to be so well preserved today. He bequeathed the house to what is now the Woolmers Foundation, which owns and runs the estate today. 

A Texas longhorn chair

Drawing room. White mantelpiece indicates it's for ladies

An epergne

After the tour we revisited the Visitor Centre, and had a hot chocolate. As the weather remained inclement, we eventually had lunch there, then, in a brief break in the rain, inspected the rose gardens. We chatted to the staff there who gave us recommendations for places to eat in Longford of an evening (there aren’t many). Unfortunately the place recommended had a sign in the door saying they were fully booked, so we ended up getting a Chinese takeaway.