Explore Tasmania > Day Trips and Walks > Near East

Near East Walks and Day Trips

Heritage buildings Within a 40 minute drive east of Elm Wood you will pass through 4 historic villages on your way to visiting 6 historic homes that are all open to the public. This rich offering reflects the colonial status of the area around Launceston, Australia’s 3rd oldest city and the first city in the nation to be established for free settlers. The villages listed for their rich heritage appeal are Westbury, Carrick, Longford and Evandale and the homes are The White House in Westbury, Entally House in Hadspen, Brickendon Farm and Woolmer’s Estate in Longford, Franklin House in Youngtown and Clarendon House at Nile, south of Evandale.

St Patrick's Day Festival To start this journey, you need only walk down the Village Green from Elm Wood to find the White House. Perhaps the most famous of all the houses in Westbury, the White House stands on land which was granted to Thomas White in 1841. A few years later White established a store and domestic residence on the site. In 1855 it became known as White's Token Store after Thomas had penny and half-penny tokens struck for customers to use when buying goods in the store. Tokens became an important basis for purchasing everyday items since there was a shortage of small denomination currency in the colony.

Vintage Car Museum White left the property in 1859 and over the next century it was variously a steam flour mill, a bakery, a bus depot and a bicycle hire factory. After extensive renovation, the White House was opened to the public in 1971. It is a fascinating combination of its past history with a well-preserved 19th century house (it comprises a dining room, small sitting room, large sitting room, bedroom, attic bedroom and kitchen) as well as a Cycle Display, a Vintage Car Museum, a toy museum and a working wood-fired bakery.

Travel east on the Bass Highway (B54) through Carrick and you will find Entally House near Hadspen. This fine home was built in 1819 by Thomas Haydock Reibey, the eldest son of Mary and Thomas Reibey of Sydney. Mary, who is pictured on Australia’s $20 note, has been described as a “plucky Lancashire lass”, a “remarkable pioneer” and a “successful and respected merchant”.

In 1792, at the age of 13 and disguised as a boy, Mary was transportation to New South Wales for seven years for stealing a horse. Mary met Thomas when he was a junior officer aboard the ‘Britannia’. Thomas and Mary were married on September 1, 1794 after Thomas applied for a land grant and sought permission from the authorities for a wedding. The couple became very successful business partners and the proud parents of seven children: Thomas, James, George, Celia, Eliza, Jane and Elizabeth.

Shipping interests bought their eldest son Thomas II to Tasmania and he obtained about 2630 acres where the current Entally Estate is located. Thomas III, born at Entally House, later became Premier of Tasmania. The Landholder’s Muster of 1819 says he owned five horses, 92 cattle and 600 sheep on a property with 2430 acres of pasture and 200 acres of wheat. Today I love to return to the glasshouse in summer to see the wonderful display of tuberous begonias.

If you now turn onto B52 and drive through Longford you will come to the adjacent properties of Brickendon and Woolmers, established by two of the Archer brothers in 1816.

Brickendon National Estate is an historic working farm that has been owned and run by the same family for over two hundred years. With seven miles of river frontage it is a popular destination for trout fishermen, and bushwalkers who love making their way through the thick and lush bush that covers most of the estate.

This property of 620 hectares crops poppies, grass seeds, barley, wheat, oats, triticale and vegetables including peas and beans. Brickendon runs approximately four thousand medium/fine micron merino sheep.

For lovers of gardens and especially old roses, the Brickendon National Estate listed gardens are a must. Why not indulge your senses.

Woolmer's Estate displays a genuine example of living history, including the fully intact family collections, possessions, and social and farming lifestyles of the early settlers. From 1816 to 1994, the Archer Family owned Woolmer’s Estate, and today the Archer Historical Foundation is delighted to offer visitors this fascinating colonial journey.

Take the guided tour of the house, but also walk around the grounds, taking in the original working horse stables, blacksmith shop, 1819 shearing shed, cider house and the coach house (garage to a 1913 vintage Wolseley car in original condition).

Garden lovers will especially want to wander through the National Rose Garden and the kitchen garden.

Clarendon House is located near Nile, about 27km South-East of Launceston via Evandale. Clarendon is one of the great Georgian houses of Australia, and was completed in 1838 for the wealthy woolgrower and merchant, James Cox. He was the second son of William Cox who pioneered the first road over the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Clarendon, on the banks of the South Esk River, has extensive formal gardens and beautiful parklands, and was given to the National Trust by Mrs W.R. Menzies in 1962. The first restoration was completed in 1966, and in 1974 the house was restored to its original appearance by the addition of the portico and parapet and has been suitably furnished by the Trust.

South of Launceston along the Old Hobart Road in Youngtown is Franklin House. Built in 1838 for an early Launceston brewer and innkeeper, Mr Britton Jones, it soon became the Classical and Commercial School. The school enjoyed an enviable reputation in the north of the colony for more than 20 years, educating the sons of many prominent citizens.

Outstanding features include the joinery of NSW cedar, an original kitchen, clocks, fine china and a collection of fine English furniture with a number of colonial pieces. The school room is also a special feature of the house.

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