Albert Road is an apparently relatively routine suburban street for a school, private houses, private businesses and shops. Hidden behind its industrial facade are a couple of very old buildings. They are not museums and not normally open to the public.
Risdon road marks the boundary between New Town and Moonah. Moonah is the aboriginal word for a Blue Gum Tree. These big trees are native in Victoria, NSW and the rest of Tasmania.
I normally begin Albert Road in Risdon Road. I then walk down Albert Road with an open green grassy area on the left and a new church on the right side of the road. On your left behind the grassy area which often contains ducks is the New Town Rivulet. It is possible to walk up the Rivulet and glimpse a sight of the second oldest farm house in Australia. The house is privately owned and difficult to see.
My aim is not to peer intently at the house. The house is not fascinating or very interesting. What is interesting is the history of this house. The second oldest farm house in Australia.
The story of Pitt Farm House is:
1804: Richard Pitt emigrated as a free settler in 1804. He was granted fertile land on north side of New Town Rivulet.
1806-1810: Pitt Farm house was built.
1826: Pitt dies. Property goes to his son Francis.
1885: Benjafield leases the property and planted orchards.
1906: John Forster buys the farm.
1930: Forster’s family rented the farm to Chinese market gardeners.
1980s: Forster’s descendants lived in the Pitt Farm House.
2007: Fire damaged.
Today: Privately owned. Occasionally open to the public. Heritage Tasmania runs an open doors program.
If you continue down Albert Road towards Moonah shops you will pass Stowellville at 113 Albert Road.
Stowellville: Built in 1825.
1824: William Fletcher who fought in the Napoleonic Wars arrived in Hobart. His job was Deputy Assistant Commissary general.
1825: Stowellville was built.
1826: William Fletcher married Hannah Hone. He lived at Stowellville.
1872: William Fletcher dies. House passes to his family. His daughter lived there until her death in 1941.
Today: The house is headquarters of a taxi company.
Risdon road marks the boundary between New Town and Moonah. Moonah is the aboriginal word for a Blue Gum Tree. These big trees are native in Victoria, NSW and the rest of Tasmania.
I normally begin Albert Road in Risdon Road. I then walk down Albert Road with an open green grassy area on the left and a new church on the right side of the road. On your left behind the grassy area which often contains ducks is the New Town Rivulet. It is possible to walk up the Rivulet and glimpse a sight of the second oldest farm house in Australia. The house is privately owned and difficult to see.
My aim is not to peer intently at the house. The house is not fascinating or very interesting. What is interesting is the history of this house. The second oldest farm house in Australia.
The story of Pitt Farm House is:
1804: Richard Pitt emigrated as a free settler in 1804. He was granted fertile land on north side of New Town Rivulet.
1806-1810: Pitt Farm house was built.
1826: Pitt dies. Property goes to his son Francis.
1885: Benjafield leases the property and planted orchards.
1906: John Forster buys the farm.
1930: Forster’s family rented the farm to Chinese market gardeners.
1980s: Forster’s descendants lived in the Pitt Farm House.
2007: Fire damaged.
Today: Privately owned. Occasionally open to the public. Heritage Tasmania runs an open doors program.
If you continue down Albert Road towards Moonah shops you will pass Stowellville at 113 Albert Road.
Stowellville: Built in 1825.
1824: William Fletcher who fought in the Napoleonic Wars arrived in Hobart. His job was Deputy Assistant Commissary general.
1825: Stowellville was built.
1826: William Fletcher married Hannah Hone. He lived at Stowellville.
1872: William Fletcher dies. House passes to his family. His daughter lived there until her death in 1941.
Today: The house is headquarters of a taxi company.