Symmons Plains Estate
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Symmons Plains Estate is a historic farm and mansion in the locality of the same name, near Perth, Tasmania. A 856ha property,{{cite news|title=Symmons Plains on the market|url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story/468169/symmons-plains-on-the-market/|accessdate=3 October 2014|publisher=The Examiner|date=3 Feb 2011}} the estate dates back to 1820s, with the main Georgian house built in 1839.{{cite news|title=Ingleby buys Symmons Plains|url=http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finding/location/tas/12400-ingleby-buys-symmons-plains.html|accessdate=3 October 2014|publisher=Property Observer|date=6 June 2011}} It is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.{{cite web|title=Tasmanian Heritage Register|url=http://www.heritage.tas.gov.au/media/pdf/THR%20as%20at%2030_7_14.pdf|website=heritage.tas.gov.au|publisher=Heritage Tasmania|accessdate=3 October 2014}} In 1978, the homestead and its garden and outbuildings were registered on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.{{cite AHD|12686|Symmons Plains Homestead, Outbuildings & Garden, 15046 Midland Hwy, Perth, TAS, Australia - listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate |date=21 March 1978|accessdate=12 October 2019}}
History
The property was granted to Rev. John Youl in the 1820s. The house was built in 1839, and the Youl family lived at the property for 7 generations. In 1960, racing driver and family heir John Youl developed neighbouring Symmons Plains Raceway from part of the property. The house came to worldwide media attention in 2011 when a false story of the home being sold to J.K. Rowling for 10 million AUD was printed by Women's Day. The story was picked up by national and international news outlets, including Sunrise Breakfast Show, Perez Hilton{{cite web|title=Check Out J.K. Rowling's New Mansion!|url=http://perezhilton.com/2011-06-08-harry-potter-creator-jk-rowling-purchases-a-new-mansion-in-tasmania|website=perezhilton.com|publisher=Perez Hilton|accessdate=3 October 2014}} and Nine News,{{cite news|title=A LOAD OF HOGWARTS|url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3242711.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618140524/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3242711.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2011|accessdate=3 October 2014|work=MediaWatch|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 June 2011}} but it was quickly debunked by news outlets including The Examiner and ABC's Media Watch.{{cite news|title=Rumour mill gets sale story wrong|url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story/475747/rumour-mill-gets-sale-story-wrong/|accessdate=3 October 2014|publisher=The Examiner|date=6 June 2011}} In reality it was purchased by Clovelly Tasmania, a farming subsidiary of the Ingleby Company.{{cite news|title=Rowling manor link denied|url=http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/07/235821_tasmania-news.html|accessdate=3 October 2014|publisher=The Mercury|date=7 June 2011}}