Of days gone by

In one of Tasmania’s most beautiful enclaves stands a majestic sweep of history, a homestead of the finest Anglo-Indian architecture that stands proud and resolute to this day. Welcome to the story of Quamby, aboriginal for ‘a place to camp, settle down and rest’; a rare jewel in which to find solace after the day’s activities.

Reminiscent of an English parkland setting, Quamby was built in the 1830s by Mr Richard Dry, an exiled Irish political prisoner transported to Tasmania and later pardoned.  It is said that behind every great man lies a great woman, and indeed he may have his wife to thank for the eventual 30,000 acres on which the homestead eventually stood. In 1828, the law of the colony restricted the maximum land grant to any one person at 9,000 acres.  Legend has it that Mrs Dry, blessed with gracious charm and beauty, as well as being a horsewoman of considerable prowess, attracted the eye of the Governor. Perhaps as a jest or a bet, the Governor offered to grant her husband as much land as she could ride around in one day.

One may ascertain that he came to rue those promised utterances, as Mrs Dry came up with a cunning ploy. By stationing horses at various intervals of land pre-selected by her husband, she was able to gallop on her first horse to where the second was positioned, and so on, until this high-spirited lady had garnered a magnificent tract of land.

Was this the way it was really won? We may never truly know, but the deed was signed and the heritage-listed Quamby homestead came into being.

Along a resplendently tree-lined driveway, history gently unfurls itself. 150-year-old poplars, hawthorns and elms stand in royal cavalcade, regally welcoming visitors to the land. At the end of the ‘lane’, the homestead is reached, a rare and stately example of barrack-style architecture inspired by the English army’s presence in India at the time of construction, or perhaps by the India of the Raj.

Manicured lawns, mature trees and rose gardens; undulating countryside with breathtaking views across to the Great Western Tiers and the Ben Lomond ranges … not much has altered since the estate’s inception. Certainly it’s not difficult to envisage haughty peacocks strutting confidently across the front garden or tawny deer quietly grazing in the parklands as they did ‘once upon a time’.

And this ‘once upon a time’ lives emphatically on into the twenty-first century. The homestead is a monument to 1830s construction and reflects the lifestyle of yesteryear. Intriguingly, ‘Tasmania’s Government House of the North’ has many notable architectural features, including soaring ceilings with decorative cornices, 8-panelled French doors, original black and white Italian marble fireplaces, a basement once home to male convicts, and internal security timber shutters initially built for protection against attack from bushrangers.

Thankfully, the bushrangers have long since departed, the windows and doors of Quamby now open to guests and visitors of a much less ferocious kind.  

Indeed, the only acts of mild aggression may perhaps be found on the tennis court or golf course in a lapse of sporting judgment. It’s here that the modern day makes its presence known, although one could well picture travelling back in time amidst the scene of rippling lakes and gentle willow trees languidly dipping their leafy toes into the water; a storybook come to life, with every corner of the estate a new page begging pleasurable discovery.   

Enjoyable and challenging for all levels of players, the Quamby golf course presents a beautifully groomed nine holes to conquer. At 576m, the eighth hole is the longest par 5 in Tasmania. A verdant stretch of prime playing field, the course is populated by a wide variety of trees that have stood their ground throughout the years. Lakes and creeks and bunkers filled with the finest Scottsdale sands lie dotted in wait for a wayward ball to make its way into their pristine lairs - manicured reminders that all is not as serene on the fairways as it may appear.

The lush escape extends to the surrounding areas, with tastebuds in for a treat. The vineyards of the Tamar Valley are less than an hour’s drive away, and the local Tasmanian produce upholds the finest traditions of creating superb cheeses, honey and jams to tempt even the most jaded of connoisseurs.

On return to the estate, the pure luxury of today’s comfort is met with open arms as queen-size beds stretch languorously out beneath original timber beams, and beautifully fitted-out bathrooms invite reclining baths. In this most serene of settings, history converges with the present day, the old and the new combining to create a seamlessly enjoyable experience.

Quamby, a truly prestigious and important part of Tasmania’s history, is a picturesque reminder of days gone by, the embrace of luxurious modern touches to soothe the soul an inherent part of its charm. Secluded and private, a haven for activity or rest, the estate is a graceful homestead with impeccable manners that carry the cares of the world far, far away.