About Poet's Cottage
Poet’s Cottage is the right choice for visitors who are searching for a combination of charm, comfort, peace and convenience to explore a delightful part of the Tasmanian Heritage town of Stanley and surrounds.
WELCOME TO POET'S COTTAGE
David and Geraldine, your hosts, do not live in Poet’s Cottage but next door, so privacy and space in Poet’s is all yours.
We welcome you to Poet’s Cottage, our dream project which has emerged over the past two years from a massive renovation and building initiative. We are proud to offer you warmth, hospitality and a strength in spirit from the magnificent history which prevails throughout the house and the town of Stanley.
Please be assured that we are here for you around the clock, and if there is anything you need or would like to find out, please do not hesitate to ask.
DISCOVER THE CHARM OF POET'S COTTAGE
Rooms & Luxury Suites
There have been several names for this Heritage Listed property. Once known as Ivydene (as it was covered in Ivy), and the Blue House ( as it was once painted an indigo blue), it was renamed Poet’s Cottage, because one of it’s previous owners, (Lyn Eldridge), was a self noted Poet. Originally, legend has it that Poet’s Cottage was architecturally designed by John Lee Archer, the same architect accredited with the design of the parliamentary buildings in Melbourne, but there is much merit in the attached history which has been researched by a local archivist, Betty Jones, with the help of Sue Smedley, who runs the Stanley Museum.
A RICH HERITAGE IN THE HEART OF POET'S COTTAGE
History of the Poet's Cottage
There have been several names for this Heritage Listed property.
The legend continues with the romance of its original intention, that was, to build a residence for the illegitimate son of King George IV. Apparently, on viewing the house, he decided it was too small and moved on to Launceston where he established residence. There is a likely connection to King George IV, through one of the later owners, the Smith family , who established the first private school in the house in the mid 1800’s. The outside “dunny” can also still be found in the top garden of the property and is also heritage listed.
The current owners inherited Poet’s Cottage from Geraldine’s mother, Pauline Heugh who purchased the property in 2000. Extensive renovations have taken place over the past two years which have sensitively restored this home to its original elegance, maintaining all the original features which we hope you will enjoy.
