Quamby Estate
{{Short description|Historic homestead in Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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| location = Hagley
| address = 1145 Westwood Road
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| coordinates = {{Coords|-41.513156|146.932860|format=dms|type:landmark}}
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Quamby Estate is a country homestead situated on 150 acres in Tasmania's Meander Valley. The estate is a Tasmanian historically important property and dates back to 1828. Quamby was the home of Sir Richard Dry, a premier of Tasmania and the first native-born premier and knight in any Australian colony.{{cite web|title=Freycinet Experiences and Attractions|url=http://www.australia.com/campaigns/nothinglike/au/freycinet-product6.htm|website=australia.com|publisher=Tourism Australia|access-date=17 June 2014}} The property is now a commercial luxury lodge.{{cite news|last1=Morton|first1=Stephen|title=Quamby Estate Launches Launceston's First Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service|url=http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/quamby-estate-launches-launcestons-first-complimentary-airport-shuttle-service/|access-date=17 June 2014|agency=Spice News|date=4 Sep 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730012855/http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/quamby-estate-launches-launcestons-first-complimentary-airport-shuttle-service/|archive-date=30 July 2014|url-status=dead}}
The estate features a white Anglo-Indian designed main homestead referred to as Tasmania's Government House of the North, a function pavilion and a golf course.{{cite news|title=Kate Richie and Stewart Webb's Fairytale Wedding|url=http://www.womansday.com.au/celebrity/celebrity-headlines/2010/9/kate-ritchie-and-stewart-webbs-fairytale-wedding/|access-date=17 June 2014|publisher=Woman's Day|date=27 September 2010}} It is situated near the historic township of Hagley.{{cite web|title=Getting Here|url=http://quambyestate.com.au/getting-here|website=Quamby Estate|access-date=17 June 2014}}
History
=Early period=
Quamby Estate was the home of Sir Richard Dry and during his time as premier, Quamby Homestead became known as the "Government House of the North".{{cite news|last1=Morton|first1=Stephen|title=Quamby Estate Launches Launceston's First Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service|url=http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/quamby-estate-launches-launcestons-first-complimentary-airport-shuttle-service/|access-date=17 June 2014|agency=Spice News|date=4 Sep 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730012855/http://www.eglobaltravelmedia.com.au/quamby-estate-launches-launcestons-first-complimentary-airport-shuttle-service/|archive-date=30 July 2014|url-status=dead}} Sir Richard Dry was born at Elphin Farm, Launceston, on 7 September 1815. His father, Richard Dry Senior had been transported to Tasmania as a political prisoner for his part in the Irish rebellion of 1804, but was granted his freedom in 1818.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
When Dry (Senior) died in 1843 he left the Quamby Estate's {{convert|30000|acre|sqkm}} to his son. Portions of the land have been sold off over time; by 1963 the estate was reduced to {{convert|600|acre|sqkm}}. Quamby Estate's main house is a 33-room building in the American Colonial style, that was built over 10 years from 1828.{{cite book|title=Westbury Municipal centenary 1863-1963|author=Westbury Municipal Council|year=1963|publisher=Telegraph Printery|location=Launceston|page=6}}
Sir Richard Dry had no heirs and just prior to his death in 1868 he had begun to shed the vast acreage of Quamby Estate. He was buried beneath the chancery in the Church he founded, St Mary's at Hagley.{{cite web|last1=John|first1=Reynolds|title=Dry, Sir Richard|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dry-sir-richard-1999|website=adb.anu.edu.au|publisher=Australian Dictionary of Biography|access-date=17 June 2014}} Soon after Lady Dry sold Quamby and sailed for England. At the time it was one of the most important land sales ever held in Tasmania.{{cite news|title=The Quamby Estate|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39530168|access-date=17 June 2014|publisher=Launceston Examiner|date=26 April 1887}}
=Subdivision=
In 1875, Quamby was sold to Victorian grazier J. J. Phelps, at which time it encompassed {{convert|11800|acre|ha}}. Phelps did not renew the leases of most tenant farmers and converted {{convert|4000|acre|ha}} of agricultural land to pasture. Due to a corresponding downturn in wool prices, the estate was neglected and in 1887 Phelps subdivided the original property into 39 farms. The main property of {{convert|970|acre|ha}} was acquired by George Gregory and remained in the ownership of the Gregory family until the 1950s, by which time it had been reduced to {{convert|640|acre|ha}}. It was subsequently purchased by John and Sallie Barnett, who undertook restoration of the homestead in the 1960s.{{cite news|url=https://heritage.tas.gov.au/Documents/Tasmanian%20Heritage%20Register%20Entry_Quamby,%20Hagley.pdf|title=Quamby|work=Tasmanian Heritage RegisterDatasheet|publisher=Tasmanian Heritage Council|year=2018|page=4}}
Recognition
Quamby Estate is listed on both the now-defunct Register of the National Estate and the Tasmanian Heritage Register.{{cite news|last1=Heritage Tasmania|title=Tasmanian Heritage Register|url=http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au/media/pdf/Web%20List%2024_02_2014.pdf|access-date=17 June 2014|publisher=Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.|date=24 February 2014}}
Current usage
Current owners and Virgin Australia founders Brett Godfrey and Rob Sherrard purchased Quamby Estate in 2010. They have also invested in several other tourism assets including the Tasmanian Walking Company, Lake House and Low Head in Tasmania. Godfrey co-owns Makepeace Island in Queensland with Sir Richard Branson.{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Lisa|title=Godfrey on Trail to Tourism Empire|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/godfrey-on-trail-to-tourism-empire/story-e6frf7jo-1226723121069|access-date=17 June 2014|publisher=The Australian|date=20 September 2013}} In 2011 Quamby Estate was fully restored to a lodge housing 10 guest rooms. Quamby Estate is also the base for Tasmanian Walking Companies' Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain Huts Guided Walks{{cite news|title=Romantic Aussie Hotels|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/photos-fn2wzol2-1225827905890?page=1|access-date=17 June 2014|publisher=Herald Sun|date=29 September 2012}}
In the early 1990s, the lodge added a golf course, whose 8th hole is the longest par 5 in Tasmania at 576 metres. The Georgian Club House was built in the 1850s as original Estate Manager's office.{{cite web|title=Quamby Estate Golf Course|url=http://tasmania.golfer.com.au/directory/quamby-estate-golf-club-hagley-tasmania/972|website=Tasmania.golfer.com.au|publisher=Australian Golfer Tasmania|access-date=17 June 2014}}