Goodland’s Stable, c. 1835
Sleeps 2 | Bedrooms 1 | Bathrooms 1
History
With a main street lined with convict-built buildings, it’s almost as if time has stood still in the quiet village of Longford. Goodland's Stable, built in 1835, has been part of Longford’s history for almost 190 years - with the story of Goodlands extending back as far as 1818, when William Mason aged 18 years, arrived in Van Diemen's Land as a free settler. Granted 60 acres in Longford to farm in 1835, he commissioned Captain John Richie from ‘Scone’ (now Eskleigh Estate) in Perth, Tasmania to build a single storey brick Georgian house, with two-storey barn and stable outbuilding.
The Masons sold Goodlands in 1877 for £3,000 to Thomas Reibey Gardner Arthur, a Longford local and Justice of the Peace. It was then sold again in 1966 to Charles Arthur Harrison. Thirty years on, the land was subdivided, and current owners & hosts Gary and Julie Iles purchased the old stable building. Despite it being an abandoned, weathered ruin, the couple immediately recognised its unique architectural value, and fell in love with its heritage beauty.
A significant restoration was undertaken with a deep respect for the building’s working past, and desire to honour its heritage. Much of the physical labour was completed by Gary, including stabilising the handmade brick walls built by convicts - with some of the bricks engraved by schoolgirls in the late 1890s on the back of the stable wall. Now, Goodland’s Stable is a delightful retreat with beautiful original features, including rustic ceiling joists, Tasmanian Oak rafters and posts, and a fireplace custom built to fit the early 1800’s cast iron bread oven, once used in the adjacent barn.
Accommodation
Full of charm and character, the Stables is a romantic, intimate escape for couples, and equally, a quiet & inspiring place for solo travellers. A cosy bedroom sanctuary has been created by utilising one of the original stalls and an original stone plinth, with queen bed luxuriously dressed in William Morris fabrics, soft organic linens and European pillows. Behind double French doors is a marble bathroom with spacious shower, heated towel rail and floor heating, with old convict brick walls maintaining the room’s historical integrity.
Bathed in sunlight, the open plan living area invites you to curl up with a book underneath the old oak beams, or prepare a ploughman’s lunch in the kitchen, where cabinetry has been lovingly handcrafted using wood from the original convict-built manger & hayrack. Curiosities of broken porcelain, stone nails, and unique draft horse collars are placed throughout, awaiting guests to delight in their discovery and dream of centuries gone. An antique French Normandy oak armoire and sideboard, from Jardin Interiors in Oatlands, complements the Stable’s rustic interior.
Your hosts provide a generous selection of pantry staples made in Tasmania, along with a continental breakfast, all included in your stay. Enjoy homemade Goodland’s Stable Granola, local organic sourdough, orange juice, yoghurt, local fruit, honey, Elizabeth Town’s Ashgrove cheese, butter, eggs, Goodland’s Stable Quince & Crabapple Jelly and Apricot Jam made using in-season fruits from the garden, and a complimentary bottle of Tasmanian local Josef Chromy Pinot Gris wine. There’s also Toby Estate ground coffee, an assortment of specialty teas, and Goodland’s Stable homebaked shortbread biscuits.
And even on the chilliest of Tasmanian winter days, you will be warm inside the Stables, cuddling a hot chocolate and enjoying contemporary underfloor heating, along with a crackling wood fire.
Step outside the Stables to an English-inspired garden, framed by box hedge and filled with the delicious scent of heritage roses. It’s yours to relax in - enjoy lunch or an evening wine out on the lawn, and on rainy days, the gardens provide a lovely outlook from your accommodation. Goodland’s Stable invites you step away from the busyness of life, slow down and rest, and spend a little time to savour history and times past.
Exclusive Offer
Book a 7 night stay and receive 20% of your booking total. Mention Historic Stays when booking.
Special Features
Romantic
Wood Fireplace
Breakfast Included
Convict Built
Things To Do
Located just 10 minutes from Launceston Airport and 15 minutes from Launceston, Longford is perfectly placed for exploring Northern Tasmania. Spend a lovely morning wandering through beautifully-preserved Longford village, admiring heritage-listed architecture, browsing antique stores and boutique shops, and stop by Ernest & Ernesto for great coffee. Visit the Tasmanian Honey Company only a few minutes’ drive for locally-produced delights. Nearby at Campbell Town is where the superfine merino wool industry first began, with a rich agricultural & convict history and delightful book shop The Book Cellar, housed in the convict cellars of one of Tasmania's most interesting heritage properties, ‘Foxhunters Return’, a c. 1830s coaching inn.
If you wish to explore Tasmania’s early history, there are two World Heritage Sites that will provide you with the greatest insights. First is Woolmers Estate established 1817, offering a unique reflection of colonial life in Tasmania. The second is Brickendon Colonial Farm Village, established 1824 and one of Tasmania’s oldest farming properties. The two estates are regarded as the most significant rural estates in Australia, having the second largest number of convict workers and still retain a living history from early European settlement to the present day.
