Norfolk Bay Convict Station near Port Arthur in Tasmania is on the market
The Norfolk Bay Convict Station, which once played a pivotal part in the history of the Port Arthur penal settlement and is among the oldest buildings on the Tasman Pensinsula, has hit the market with a price guide of $1 million.
Built as a railway station in the late 1830s – the first written documentation of the property dates to 1842 – the property received cargo and passengers brought by ship from Hobart and destined for Port Arthur.
In order to avoid the dangerous journey around Cape Raoul required for a direct journey to Port Arthur, ships would anchor in the sheltered waters of Norfolk Bay and their cargo would be transported by rail for the final eight-kilometre journey to the prison.
Built and run by convicts imprisoned at Port Arthur, the railway line and station lay claim to being the first in Australia, although the steam trains and ornate carriages associated with rail travel during that period are a far cry from the carts that convicts would push along the hilly rail line.
The property, which is located in the town of Taranna, has subsequently operated as an inn (the first to open on the Tasman Peninsula), post office and guest house. It is currently operating as a bed and breakfast.
With the current owners looking to retire after 15 years of running the business, a new chapter beckons for the heritage-listed site.
Listing agent Phillip Wells, of Kate Storey Realty, said new owners could continue to operate the business or transform the property into a private home.
“It’s just a stunning property,” Mr Wells said.
“It oozes history. That’s not a word I’d usually use, but as you walk around the place it really does ooze history. It was a store for the ships when they came in from Hobart. It was an inn … there was all sorts of history.”
Along with water views and access to the public jetty, the property features “incredible sunsets from the verandah to Kunanyi [Mount Wellington]”.
The bed and breakfast business currently has future bookings in place. Mr Wells said these would need to honoured as part of the sale.
Built from convict brick, and with what Mr Wells describes as “incredibly thick” walls, the property is currently configured as two separate levels.
The ground floor consists of five guest bedrooms, a commercial kitchen, guest dining room, storerooms, and laundry, while upstairs serves as the owners’ accommodation with a bedroom, lounge area, kitchenette, bathroom and storage room.
The Tasman Peninsula – which incorporates Taranna – is about 75 kilometres south-east of Hobart and has a small permanent population of 2000 people, which can triple with tourists in the high season.
“The peninsula is booming,” Mr Wells said. “It’s only one hour from Hobart. The tourist numbers keep increasing. We’ve got the Three Capes Walk where you have to book ahead because it’s so popular, we’ve got surfing at Shipstern Bluff and the game fishing is amazing – there’s a lot to love.”
Major supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles can be found at Sorrell, a 40-minute drive away, according to Mr Wells, with smaller stores located in nearby Nubeena.
The Norfolk Bay Convict Station at 5862 Arthur Highway, Taranna, is for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 21.
