Located on the ridge cresting Windmill Hill overlooking Launceston, Hatherley House has been a grand home for esteemed families over nearly two centuries.

The historic residence is one of the finest examples of a Tuscan Italianate residence in Australia. Listed on the National Estate and Tasmanian Heritage Registers, the mansion dates back to c1827. The Italianate period of the mansion was commissioned and undertaken circa 1870s by Henry Dowling with works constructed by James Bennell, a master painter, gilder, carver and builder renowned as the first colonial property entrepreneur of the colony.

“There's a myriad of historic properties across Tasmania, but Hatherley House is really quite unique. It literally reads like a Who's Who of early Australian history, where some very big decisions, made by Henry Dowling, were pivotal to the future of Tasmania,” agent Gayle Walker told WILLIAMS MEDIA.  

Brimming with period features, Hatherley has recently seen professional conservation with a state of the art renovation tastefully introducing the home into the 21st century. 

“The current owners have a real love for the home, a passion and eye for beauty which has restored Hatherley to its former grandeur - it's a wonderful family home with a sense of provenance, calmness and elegance and a stunning contemporary vibe,” Gayle Walker told WILLIAMS MEDIA. “So many features are a standout, such as the exquisite, tranquil gardens and all the little hallmarks of the period, all still intact.”

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Owners Jack and Rebecca Birrell were drawn to the property despite the state it was in at the time. “Hatherley’s features are nothing short of breathtaking and it has been a joy to return the building to its original use as a grand family home,” Jack Birrell told WILLIAMS MEDIA. “When we first saw Hatherley we could not resist the challenge of restoring the property and returning it back into a family residence. It had been a Bed and Breakfast Hotel and had been left vacant for some years. The gardens were overgrown, the house while in near original condition was filled with leaves and cobwebs and needed extensive conservation works to carefully be reconfigure back to a stately residence.” 

“The history of this magnificent Tuscan Italianate villa is a rich tapestry of interesting custodians. Hatherley is a rare example of the finest colonial architecture, is set within mature expansive gardens on Windmill Hill, and enjoys commanding views towards Ben Lomond, one of Tasmania’s highest mountains (1,570m).”

Among the many historic details retained from the Victorian era are the magnificent cast-iron fence, set upon a dressed bluestone plinth with a signature semi-circular gateway, filigree iron posts with the name ‘Hatherley’ inscribed, and the Dowling family crest atop the entry gate. A classical portico with rusticated quoins and sprung archways signals the grand front entry leading to an impressive Bennell trademark six panel front door.

The main lobby and foyer feature niched walls with hand-etched Victorian glass lights, illuminating what is arguably one of the largest tessellated tile floors known to exist from the early colonial period. A red felt-lined door leads into the grand hall with a central stained glass window showcasing the Dowling’s griffin family crest. Period light fittings with elaborate ceiling roses are some of the rarest early examples of electric lighting in the nation. Hand etched glass, brass and a converted gas to electricity chandelier are original and resplendent within the entry sequence and formal rooms.

The covered verandahs and flooring, also meticulously restored, afford magnificent garden and mountain views. Broad stairs lead down to the expansive gardens with a generous entertainment terrace. Hatherley’s gardens regularly play host to tourism, arts and music events, intimate weddings and VIP functions whilst also providing a contemplative outdoor experience - perfect for private, formal and informal family living and entertaining.

A design atelier was transformed from the historic Gardeners Cottage through comprehensive refurbishment in 2016 with new roofing, glazing, insulation, air conditioning, electrical/data/lighting, finishes, cladding, and a powder room - making the perfect space for any home business, office or artist studio.  

Hatherley House is a short walk to Launceston’s CBD via historic elm-lined Bennell Way, situated close to private and public schools, Inveresk’s Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, UTAS Stadium, University Precinct, cafes and restaurants, the recreational facilities of Windmill Hill and the Launceston Aquatic Centre.

See more of 43 High Street East Launceston TAS 7250, including additional photos, floorplan, and location map, on Luxury List.

To arrange a private inspection or enquire about a price guide phone or email Gayle Walker of Tasmania Sotheby’s International Realty - Greater Hobart or Jake McIntyre of Tasmania Sotheby’s International Realty - Greater Hobart via these links.

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