Tasmanian Colonial homes, centring on Hobart and Launceston | Summer School in Hobart, Tasmania

The tour will begin with a welcome dinner, where we have a chance to meet other Summer School participants. For those arriving earlier today, your leader will take you on a self-guided heritage walk around Launceston in the afternoon.

This morning, after breakfast, we visit Franklin House, just a few moments drive from Launceston. Franklin House, now owned by the National Trust for Tasmania, is the city’s only house museum. Built for successful businessman, Britton Jones, himself an ex-convict, Franklin House is notable for its rich use of imported Australian Red Cedar. This rare colonial building went on to accommodate one of the colony’s leading private schools which operated from 1842 until 1866. We will also visit nearby St James Church, built in 1845, which had a long association with Franklin House.

We then make our way to Brickendon Estate, owned by the Archer family for 200 years. Brickendon is one of Tasmania’s oldest farming properties, settled in 1824 by William Archer. The farm has been continuously operated and lived on by his direct descendants, now in their seventh generation. In July 2010, Brickendon Estate, along with its neighbouring property, Woolmers Estate, was listed jointly as a World Heritage Site being part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property.

Our last stop for the day is Clarendon Estate, another National Trust property. It is set in 7 hectares of parklands on the banks of the South Esk River, this magnificent three-storey Georgian house has servants’ quarters, a heritage walled garden, several farm buildings and a rare avenue of elms.

Clarendon was built in 1838 as an extraordinary statement of achievement for wealthy wool grower and merchant, James Cox, who was born in Wiltshire, England. Although Clarendon was built with convict labour, Mr Cox was known to treat his convicts well and he later played a major role in the abolition of transportation and convict labour.

The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace.

Today we depart Launceston and travel south to Hobart stopping along the way to visit some interesting colonial towns. We’ll drive through Campbell Town, Ross and Oatlands with stops for lunch and to view some of the more notable buildings.

The convict-built Red Bridge in Campbell Town was erected back in the 1830s and is also remarkably beautiful. It is a well preserved and unique example of early Australian stonework. Campbell Town’s infrastructure was almost entirely built by convicts. By the mid-1830s, free settlers had established the area and built a courthouse, police house, hotels and inns.

Ross is one of the finest nineteenth century villages in Australia. Cobble-style paths and grand old elm trees line the main street, while the Ross Bridge, Australia’s third oldest bridge still standing, is possibly the most beautiful of its kind left in the world.

We continue on with a stop to visit historic Oatlands. This small colonial town is pressed right up against Lake Dulverton. Oatlands boasts the largest number of colonial sandstone buildings in Australia. Many of them were built with the help of convict labour. Callington Mill, built in 1837, is still in operation and is the only one of its kind in the entire Southern Hemisphere.

We arrive to our Hobart hotel in the late afternoon and the rest of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, drive to New Norfolk, just 30 minutes from Hobart. The town is the third oldest settlement in Tasmania, established by evacuees relocated from Norfolk Island after the island prison was abandoned in 1807. Its historic past is evident in the many early buildings found in the town, including one of Australia’s oldest pubs and Australia’s oldest Anglican church, St Matthews. It also has one of Australia’s few traditional village squares.

In the afternoon we’ll travel the short distance to Plenty where we visit the Salmon Ponds in their English garden setting. The hatchery was established in the 1860s and is Australia’s oldest trout hatchery.

We return to our hotel later in the afternoon and the remainder of the day is free.

Today we explore the history of the early free settlers with emphasis on those who built some of the houses we’ll visit over the next few days.

Our first visit is to Narryna House, a short walk from our hotel. This Georgian mansion was built in the late 1830s by Captain Andrew Haig, a Calcutta based merchant who bought land in Hobart in 1824 and built Salamanca Place’ first warehouses, before turning his attention to the building of Narryna.

After lunch we’ll visit the Hobart Museum and tour the historic Theatre Royal, built in 1837. The theatre was designed by Peter Degraves, founder of Cascade, Australia’s oldest brewery, and has walls of convict-carved stone. The building design was approved by John Lee Archer, Colonial Engineer. Note: Tour is subject to change without notice due to rehearsals and performances.

The afternoon and evening are free.

After breakfast, we take a short drive north to to the historic towns of Richmond and Pontville where we go on walks exploring the towns, with stops for lunch and the opportunity to visit a number of historic sites.

This evening, we have our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

After breakfast, the tour draws to a close.