Quamby Estate is a country homestead situated on 150 acres in Tasmania's Meander Valley. The estate is a Tasmanian historically important property and dates back to 1828. Quamby was the home of Sir Richard Dry, a premier of Tasmania and the first native-born premier and knight in any Australian colony.[1] The property is now a commercial luxury lodge.[2]
 | |
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hagley |
| Address | 1145 Westwood Road |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 41°30′47″S 146°55′58″E / 41.513156°S 146.932860°E |
The estate features a white Anglo-Indian designed main homestead referred to as Tasmania's Government House of the North, a function pavilion and a golf course.[3] It is situated near the historic township of Hagley.[4]
History
editEarly period
editQuamby Estate was the home of Sir Richard Dry and during his time as premier, Quamby Homestead became known as the "Government House of the North".[5] Sir Richard Dry was born at Elphin Farm, Launceston, on 7 September 1815. His father, Richard Dry Senior had been transported to Tasmania as a political prisoner for his part in the Irish rebellion of 1804, but was granted his freedom in 1818.[citation needed]
When Dry (Senior) died in 1843 he left the Quamby Estate's 30,000 acres (120 km2) to his son. Portions of the land have been sold off over time; by 1963 the estate was reduced to 600 acres (2.4 km2). Quamby Estate's main house is a 33-room building in the American Colonial style, that was built over 10 years from 1828.[6]
Sir Richard Dry had no heirs and just prior to his death in 1868 he had begun to shed the vast acreage of Quamby Estate. He was buried beneath the chancery in the Church he founded, St Mary's at Hagley.[7] Soon after Lady Dry sold Quamby and sailed for England. At the time it was one of the most important land sales ever held in Tasmania.[8]
Subdivision
editIn 1875, Quamby was sold to Victorian grazier J. J. Phelps, at which time it encompassed 11,800 acres (4,800 ha). Phelps did not renew the leases of most tenant farmers and converted 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of agricultural land to pasture. Due to a corresponding downturn in wool prices, the estate was neglected and in 1887 Phelps subdivided the original property into 39 farms. The main property of 970 acres (390 ha) was acquired by George Gregory and remained in the ownership of the Gregory family until the 1950s, by which time it had been reduced to 640 acres (260 ha). It was subsequently purchased by John and Sallie Barnett, who undertook restoration of the homestead in the 1960s.[9]
Recognition
editQuamby Estate is listed on both the now-defunct Register of the National Estate and the Tasmanian Heritage Register.[10]
Current usage
editCurrent owners and Virgin Australia founders Brett Godfrey and Rob Sherrard purchased Quamby Estate in 2010. They have also invested in several other tourism assets including the Tasmanian Walking Company, Lake House and Low Head in Tasmania. Godfrey co-owns Makepeace Island in Queensland with Sir Richard Branson.[11] In 2011 Quamby Estate was fully restored to a lodge housing 10 guest rooms. Quamby Estate is also the base for Tasmanian Walking Companies' Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain Huts Guided Walks[12]
In the early 1990s, the lodge added a golf course, whose 8th hole is the longest par 5 in Tasmania at 576 metres. The Georgian Club House was built in the 1850s as original Estate Manager's office.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Freycinet Experiences and Attractions". australia.com. Tourism Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Morton, Stephen (4 September 2012). "Quamby Estate Launches Launceston's First Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service". Spice News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Kate Richie and Stewart Webb's Fairytale Wedding". Woman's Day. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Getting Here". Quamby Estate. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Morton, Stephen (4 September 2012). "Quamby Estate Launches Launceston's First Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service". Spice News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Westbury Municipal Council (1963). Westbury Municipal centenary 1863-1963. Launceston: Telegraph Printery. p. 6.
- ^ John, Reynolds. "Dry, Sir Richard". adb.anu.edu.au. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "The Quamby Estate". Launceston Examiner. 26 April 1887. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Quamby" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage RegisterDatasheet. Tasmanian Heritage Council. 2018. p. 4.
- ^ Heritage Tasmania (24 February 2014). "Tasmanian Heritage Register" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Allen, Lisa (20 September 2013). "Godfrey on Trail to Tourism Empire". The Australian. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Romantic Aussie Hotels". Herald Sun. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Quamby Estate Golf Course". Tasmania.golfer.com.au. Australian Golfer Tasmania. Retrieved 17 June 2014.