No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering. Picture: Supplied
IF this stately home’s walls could talk, they would certainly have a story to tell.
The sprawling, sophisticated Kettering home’s history dates back to the early 1800s.
And it takes just an instant to see that it is one of the finest properties in Tasmania.
But it also has a fascinating and unusual past.
The original Anstey Barton house was built by Englishman Thomas Anstey in 1824, three miles west of Oatlands in central Tasmania.
That’s about 115km from where it sits today.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
The property’s current owners say, by 1979, the grand manor had fallen into disrepair. It had been abandoned.
They made the bold move to purchase it and carefully dismantle what was left of the house.
Its convict sandstone blocks were transported to a new site in Kettering with the owner, one labourer and a crane driver from Hazell Bros stacking the stone from the walls and some convict bricks on 200 pallets.
Transporting it to Kettering took seven days.
Next, the owners spent over two years building a new Anstey Barton.
MORE: Hobart suburb hits $2m+ median house price milestone
Forecast: Where rents are set to increase the most by next year
The design was based on the style of Secheron House, built in 1831 in Battery Point, with its extensive verandas overlooking the Derwent River.
At one time, Anstey Barton’s owners lived near Secheron House and liked its large rooms, its northeast aspect, the historic woodwork, and cornices.
“It dawned on us one day that we should build our own two-storey version of that home,” she said.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
The owners sourced about 30 tons of cedar to use in building their Ferry Rd dream home.
She said they used celery-top pine for the floorboards, which are eight inches wide by one inch thick.
Today, from its elevated position, Anstey Barton overlooks the marine activities of Kettering and out to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
The historic home is testament to colonial architecture combined with 21st Century technology and comfort.
MORE: Country pub sale is a deal four decades in the making
June housing rebound on sales, pricing
There is so much to discover here and hints of the past abound, such as the front door which once belonged to Hannibal Hawkins Macarthur; colonist, politician, businessman, wool pioneer and nephew of Captain John McArthur. The next owner of the property will discover lofty 12-foot high upstairs ceilings, while downstairs has nine-foot ceilings.
But it also offers modern luxuries such as underfloor heating, double showers and hand basins, and a temperature-controlled cellar.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
A large family, executives or an accommodation-minded business operator might be intrigued by the idea of buying Anstey Barton.
The owner said they had success offering “accommodation for discerning travellers”.
“We had senators, judges, solicitors, and groups of people who wanted to stay with us,” she said.
“We would only take one group at a time, and that privacy was appealing.
“I’d imagine being overrun if you offered accommodation today.”
MORE: Hobart’s most liveable affordable suburbs for renters
Cheapest ways to add value to your home
No.82 Ferry Rd is approached through a sandstone gateway, a sweeping driveway, and landscaped gardens, to an extensive courtyard.
A commanding portico and cedar front door open to a vast entrance foyer from which the formal living rooms of the house are found.
To the left is the billiard room running the full width of the building with French doors leading to the wide veranda.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
The billiard room has two sets of French doors, a large chandelier, Jetmaster fireplace, and a cedar mantelpiece.
The drawing room, with its beautiful bay window, and the adjacent dining room present the northern face of the building.
These two rooms have open fireplaces, creating a relaxed atmosphere in a sophisticated setting.
With high ceilings, solid cedar architraves, skirting boards and doors, wide floorboards, and period light fittings and fire surrounds, there is a definite sense of a 19th Century world combined with present-day comforts.
A conservatory captures the views and all day sun. It is a conduit between the formal rooms and the more casual eastern wing of the home.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering.
A spacious family kitchen opens to the patio and garden, and, with the primary bedroom, shares views of the Channel. The bedroom is complete with a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite with a double shower and double basins.
Two spacious double bedrooms, a family bathroom and a laundry complete this wing, and adjoin the four-car garage on the southern side of the courtyard.
On the lower level of the building there are three large, double bedrooms, each with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, plus a study, the cellar, and a substantial storeroom. The large cellar maintains a constant temperature of 12C year-round.
Ducted heating throughout both levels warms the home.
No.82 Ferry Rd, Kettering will be sold via expressions of interest. Contact Nick Brewer or Harry Briant for details.