BRICKENDON AND WOOLMERS ESTATE

Welcome to Brickendon and Woolmers Estate

Step back in time and experience a bygone era at two grand Tasmanian farming properties with rich histories.

Sitting side by side with the likes of Port Arthur, Darlington on Maria Island and Fremantle Prison on the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing, the neighbouring properties of Brickendon and Woolmers Estate form the striking legacy of one pioneering family, with a whole lot of help from convict labour.

In 1817, little more than a decade after the towns of Hobart and Launceston had been established, the first of four ambitious and entrepreneurial brothers arrived in Van Diemen’s Land.

Hailing from Hereford in England’s south, the Archer siblings became a formidable farming force in northern Tasmania’s Norfolk Plains region, creating vast properties and estates, one of which is still owned and operated by the family.

Thomas Archer was the first to arrive in the colony and he quickly established Woolmers Estate. Using the labour of convicts and free settlers, he focused on sheep and grazing.

His older brother, William, arrived in 1824 with 77 merino ewes and three rams, a Norman cow and bull, numerous pigs and two stallions. He was granted 465 hectares nearby, where he established Brickendon, named for a village near his birthplace. He developed it into a mixed enterprise of cropping and livestock.

Seven generations on, William Archer’s descendants still live and work on Brickendon and have opened their property – with its historic farm buildings, cottages and chapel – to visitors.

Sitting side-by-side in Longford, Woolmers Estate and Brickendon together form one of the 11 sites around Australia that make up the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage listing, recognising their historical significance.

Listen on for a full description of these two fascinating sites, which now welcome guests to visit and enjoy an array of hands-on, family-friendly activities.

History of Brickendon Estate

In a vast pastoral landscape sits Brickendon Estate, a relic of colonial rural life preserved for some 200 years by the Archer family.

Brickendon Historic Farm and Convict Village was established by William Archer in 1824 when he bought the more than 400 hectares of land adjacent to Woolmers Estate, owned by his brother.

During the 1800s, Brickendon employed 45 to 50 men who worked clearing native bush from the land, such as wattles and blackwoods, to make way for cropping activities. They spent their days digging drainage and planting hawthorn rows – 30km of which still exist – to separate the land into 30-acre paddocks.

The crops here traditionally produced barley, linseed, flax and corn. Animals such as draught horses and bullocks tilled the soil for these crops. Turnips, mangolds and wurzels were planted in nearby fodder crops to feed the working animals. The equipment used to fashion these crops remains on site in Brickendon’s granaries and barns. Traditional convict-dug drains for the crops can still be observed on the site.

Brickendon was flourishing by the 1840s, with the farm introducing meat production from Shorthorn cattle and Corriedale sheep by the early 1900s. The equipment used in day-to-day farm operations has modernised over the years. Most notably, tractors have reduced the need for human and animal labour.

Today, the preserved convict-made buildings and heritage gardens are set within the operational farms overseen by the sixth-generation owner Richard Archer, providing a living link between early European settlement and the present day. Produce includes vegetable, grass, seed and poppy crops. The estate also hosts an extensive array of livestock, including 1500 sheep and 80 Angus cows.

Listen on for tips on what to do during your visit to Brickendon Estate.

On offer at Brickendon

Wander through Brickendon’s well-preserved farm village featuring a blacksmith’s shop, cookhouse, rodent-proof grain store and more.

The Convict Interpretation Centre offers a chance to learn about the assignment convict system and its role in the developing colony.

The Archer family’s graceful and historic Georgian homestead is still home to three generations of the family, and the adjoining private gardens of the estate are open to visitors. These gardens were laid out by William Archer in the 1830s and contain one of the most unusual collections of trees found in any private garden in Australia, including large oaks, cedars, elms and pines. Admire the perennials and stop and smell the roses, which blossom in elegant shades such as white and pink.

The 420-hectare estate of Brickendon features 20 timber and brick buildings – many constructed by convicts – including the original blacksmith shop and a Gothic 1850s chapel. Wander across green lawns and among gaggles of chickens, turkeys and ducks. Pass buildings with patchy brickwork, darkened timber, ornate rooves, spires and exposed chimneys. Perhaps the most unique structure, the Sussex Barn is a timber outbuilding that can be hired for large events, with a high roof and distinctive geometric design.

Stay at a range of self-contained historic and farm cottages for a traditional colonial accommodation experience. Absorb the authentic character while enjoying cosy modern comforts like fireplaces, baths, and floor heating. Wake up to vast English-style countryside shrouded in morning mist. Rise by 10.15am to hand-feed the endearing farm animals, including an adorable herd of sheep, chickens and cows.

Day visits to the farm village and heritage gardens are available Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am–5pm between October and May, and from 10am–4pm between June and September.

The 2.8km Convict Farm Walk links the neighbouring properties of Brickendon and Woolmers, crossing the Macquarie River on a suspension bridge. Listen on to learn about Woolmers Estate.

History of Woolmers Estate

A few kilometres south-west of Perth, just outside the historic town of Longford, is Woolmers Estate, one of Australia’s best-preserved 19th-century homesteads.

Thomas Archer I settled this estate in around 1817. Woolmers was continuously occupied by the Thomas Archer family until 1994, with the last descendant being Thomas Archer VI.

Several structures were built on the acreage, including the private master’s homestead – a regal, off-white building with maroon trim and thick, cylindrical white pillars flanking the doorway. A tiny hedge encircles the building, which stands next to a large driveway turning circle. The residence was extended in 1843 to include a kitchen, where female convicts would work.

The private master’s homestead has maintained a gleaming, clean façade, whereas the chapel wears its age with pride. This small building has warped roofing, painted white trim peeling away at the edges, and a rough, faded-brown clay that has chipped away in some patches to reveal the brickwork underneath. This former chapel is now an apple-packing shed.

The male convicts typically worked in the homestead, the blacksmith’s shop, the cidery, the woolshed, the coach house and pump house, and the fields and stables. From woolshed wall graffiti to curated collections, remnants of convict life at Woolmers have been remarkably well preserved.

As farming activity flourished, Woolmers Estate was developed into a bustling village hosting as many as 100 people at a time. Free workers eventually came to Woolmers Estate to join the convicts. The coachmen working on the estate would stay in the 1840s-built Coachmans Cottage, with the simple design of these quarters implying a lower social standing for the coachmen. The Gardeners Cottage was built during the 1840s in a gothic style, and around this time the simple, self-contained Free Settlers Cottages were built by pairs of convicts using stone and brick.

On offer at Woolmers

Marvel at the carefully preserved colonial structures in the rural setting of Woolmers Estate, from a magnificent rose garden to Australia's oldest operating shearing shed.

Tour the original homestead, with its grand gates and well-kept grounds. This was home for Thomas Archer’s family until 1994. On display are original items of furniture, decorations and all the trappings of 180 years of farming life. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the past – of both a family and the colony that was to become Tasmania. This is also an authentic collection, where the items genuinely belong to the site. The guided tour of the homestead takes about 45 to 50 minutes.

Be sure to stroll through the 1.5-hectare National Rose Garden, which features more than 5000 roses that bloom brilliantly from November to May. Varieties include historical Chinese and European roses, through to flowers from the 1900s.

Take a self-guided tour of the outbuildings. Significant structures worth visiting include a convict-built blacksmith’s shop, the cider house and the bakehouse. The cider house contains a traditional cider press, with a solid stone disc able to rotate on a central axis. The small bakehouse features a central chimney and a quaint English-style garden.

If you’re in search of accommodation, take your pick of six colonial cottages overlooking the Meander River, ranging from one- to three-bedroom self-contained stays. The free settlers’ cottages are distinctly historical and feature traditional furniture, along with some modern creature comforts such as wood heaters, kitchen appliances, and electric heating.

Woolmers is open 10am–3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday for day visitors. The Nigel Peck Centre on-site houses the gallery, café, and ticketing services.

Accessibility

Find Brickendon and Woolmers Estate on the outskirts of Longford, a 20-minute drive 25km south of Launceston, and a 185km drive (or a little over two hours) north of Hobart. Woolmers Estate runs guided tours of the house, and guided convict tours, with self-guided tours of other areas on the property also available. Bookings are recommended.

Travellers can stay in rustic farm cottages, including a trio of original convict-built cottages at Brickendon, and in modernised convict-built cottages at Woolmers Estate. For guests of Brickendon Estate, the Farm cottages are most suitable for dog guides, as they are on one level with a more open plan and are a little further from the centre of the tourist attraction. At Woolmers Estate, Gardeners Cottage is the best-suited accommodation for dog guides. The standalone cottage has only a ground floor.

The 796 bus service can take you from Launceston to the 118 Marlborough Street stop in Longford, which is a 23-minute walk from the Brickendon Estate. There are also places to eat and stay in the small town of Longford. Taxis can take you to both Woolmers and Brickendon.