Ashfield, No.11 Margaret St, Sandy Bay is for sale with Peterswald. Picture: Supplied
IT’S not every day that the chance comes along to visit one of Tasmania’s important, historical homes.
But the Mercury enjoyed such a pleasure last week ahead of this glorious property’s launch to market for the first time in decades.
Set on a sprawling 4400sq m holding in Sandy Bay, Ashfield is a one-of-a-kind.
For many years, its custodians have tended to the property’s every need. And cultivated an awe-inspiring garden with gigantic magnolia and pear trees that look stunning all year round but especially so in early spring.
Prestige property expert and Peterswald director Kim Morgan described this Margaret St home as “gracious and generous”.
“The gardens were first established almost 200 years ago. They are divine, monumental and exquisite,” Mr Morgan said. “They have hosted many weddings and garden parties.”
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Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Depending on where one stands on the property, there are jaw-dropping views to take in — across Marieville Esp to the yachts on the river, or up to the majestic Mt Wellington.
With a 500sq m-plus floorplan, there is plenty to see at Ashfield, inside and out. And yet, somehow, the home does not feel oversized, but rather warm, inviting and comfortable.
The house — with a separate guest apartment that could become, once again, part of the main home — blends effortlessly between its Georgian heritage toward the street, and a newer architect-designed extension.
The newer section features Huon pine joinery and benchtops, gas cooking, airy space and exposed timber beams, offering modern convenience and appeal.
“It is a statement in postmodernist chic,” Mr Morgan said.
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Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
A loft space above this kitchen and living zone was used by the owner as a sewing room; light, airy, and connected to the space below that is warmed by a gas fire.
With a colonial pedigree, Ashfield was originally constructed as a three-room farmhouse in 1834 for the architect who designed the Richmond Bridge, Mr Morgan said.
He said Ashfield’s sale will be one of Tasmania’s most significant of the year.
“It’s not just the price of a property such as this. It’s the heritage and this historical significance being passed to the next custodian,” he said.
Over the last 190 years, Ashfield has grown into the impressive home that it is today, seeing architectural interventions in 1911, with the addition of the Arts and Crafts billiard room and more recently, with the modern extension of the kitchen and family living room by the celebrated architect Bevan Rees.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
While it does not feature a table today, the billiard room is still known by that name and is perhaps the most impressive space in the whole property. There is a palpable ‘if only the walls could talk’ feeling here.
The flexibility of the home’s floorplan offers myriad possibilities for configuration, with multiple bedroom choices, three bathrooms, and numerous living and dining options.
Period details remain throughout the house, from the proportions of the original cottage to the statement fireplaces, decorative ceiling roses, warm timber floors and multi-pane windows that have been sympathetically juxtaposed with more recent elements like the stainless steel and timber of the kitchen, crisply tiled bathrooms and expanses of glass which keep everything bathed in natural light.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
With its verandas and courtyard, the house is well situated to maximise the glorious gardens and outdoor space.
It’s not a stretch to imagine the farm and market garden that Ashfield once was, as part of its nostalgic charm lies in its spectacular, almost one-acre of garden and established fruit trees.
Some of the oldest pear trees in the country continue to grow here, putting on a breathtaking display of white blossom every spring for almost two centuries.
While the age and beauty of the house is remarkable, it’s through the house’s symbiotic connection with the expansive and private garden that the magic happens.
It’s a treasure trove, and it’s obvious that the gardens have been much loved over a long period of time by a gardener with a passion for their craft.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
Ashfield.
The plantings are lush — roses, peonies, hellebores, hedges and whimsical topiary. Raised beds grow vegetables and herbs.
The garden is introduced by its uniquely undulating front hedge and iron gates, creating a sense of privacy and mystery from the street.
It sets the scene for what is beyond.
Following what would have once been a carriage sweep through to the Georgian facade of the original house, the perspective opens up, revealing the garden and extending into the distance.
Ashfield at No.11 Margaret St, Sandy Bay is for sale with Peterswald via expressions of interest, closing on November 7.
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