A Day Out

This afternoon I was invited out to have a tour and afternoon tea at Shene, half an hour out of Hobart. These old estate buildings have been carefully restored to their c. 1830s condition, and are now open for everyone to enjoy. The custodians (as they call themselves) have spared no expense in the process, and have an entire lifestyle of making these buildings accessible for the public - if just one person wants to see them, they will make it happen. They live in the homestead, in the very rooms on display, although you would never know it.

The land was granted (by a circuitous route) to a very wealthy 1820s settler, and the grand stables designed by his son. The entire area represents a well-preserved farming heritage landscape, and although the house has now been divided (on paper) from the working farm, it is clearly still a working landscape.

We enjoyed our afternoon very much, and we're very impressed by the dedication, detail and professionalism of the family who have taken this project on.