Brickendon Estate

Part of Tasmania's World Heritage Convict Sites, Brickendon Historic Farm and Convict Village is located just outside Longford, in Northern Tasmania. Built by William Archer in 1824, the Estate is still owned and farmed by his direct descendants, currently in their 7th generation. You have a rare chance to explore the convict-built Brickendon Farm Village with buildings including the quaint little Gothic chapel, Sussex barns, poultry shed, blacksmith shop, cookhouse and shearing shed. Whilst you are wandering, QR codes will provide a modern interpretation of the early convict history of the northern Tasmania. Hear the stories of the convicts Assigned to the Archer family and read about their lives. The Farm Village is also alive with a multitude of friendly farm animals with animal feeding daily at 10.15 am or purchase a bag of feed and wander at your leisure. The four-hectare historic garden surrounding the Georgian homestead, feature beds of old fashioned roses and perennials to complement the house's historic façade. Explore the 'garden rooms', each with their own mood and ambiance and stand beside the amazing 1830s English and exotic trees including oaks, elms, cedars and pines, sourced throughout the world. Overnight guests at Brickendon can stay at a number of historic or farm cottages and have free entry to all the attractions. Longford is about a 15-minute drive (27 km) from Launceston.

Woolmers Estate is Australia's finest example of a pioneer farm from the early 1800s and one of Tasmania's World Heritage Convict Sites. Woolmers was continuously occupied by the Archer family from around 1817 to 1994 and is acknowledged as one of the most outstanding examples of 19th century rural settlements in Australia. The estate offers an insight into the social structure of a colonial pastoral estate. The collection of original buildings on Woolmers includes family accommodation, workers' cottages, a former chapel, blacksmith's shop, stables, bakehouse, pump house and gardener's cottage. In addition to the architectural heritage, the site contains a wide range of collections acquired by the family over 180 years, providing a rare insight into six generations of one family. The combination of the historical collections, the buildings and the site itself represents a significant cultural resource. In late spring through to autumn, there is an opportunity to walk through history with thousands of roses, representing the historical development of the rose in the southern hemisphere, ranging from the earliest European and Chinese roses through to varieties of the twenty first century. Woolmers Estate offers guided tours through the main homestead and guided convict tours as well as self-guided tours of the out-buildings, grounds and gardens.

A Schubertiade is a festival that celebrates the music of composer Franz Schubert. Over a spring weekend in November we bring you our own Schubertiade, with TSO musicians and guests performing the best of Schubert at Woolmers Estate. Schubert’s ‘Trout’, composed in the idyllic Austrian countryside, is a perfect fit with the pastoral surrounds of beautiful Woolmers Estate. If you’re a lover of chamber music, our Schubertiade weekend is an experience not to be missed.