2071 Ellendale Road, Ouse, Tas 7140

It is for good reason that Walter Angus Bethune chose this site to build a family home in 1821. Situated on a rise above the Derwent River, the commanding views over the quiet pastoral landscape are simply beautiful and symbolically Arcadian - and no doubt reminiscent of "home" back in Scotland. Cherished as a family home for generations, this Old Colonial Georgian homestead and sandstone outbuildings offer an exciting and unparalleled opportunity to own a remarkable piece of early Australian history. This is the ideal we are all looking for in that perfect country house.
In 1820, Walter Angus Bethune, aged 26, migrated to Tasmania from Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. He became a successful merchant and was granted Dunrobin in the Derwent Valley in 1821 and soon after expanded his estate by grant and purchasing land to amass 25,000 acres. He married Charlotte Stracey in 1832 and had 12 children. For the next 190 years, Dunrobin remained the Bethune family home. The property comes with provenance and has had a colourful and well documented history relating to the early settlement and development of the region, convicts, bushrangers and politicians. Today it is the much loved family home of the Gilbertsons.
A sense of calm overcomes you the moment you arrive at Dunrobin – extensive views over the Derwent River and Lake Meadowbank and towards the Hartz Mountains, Mount Wellington and rolling green hills set the scene. The land slopes towards the river with a complex of historic sandstone outbuildings and at its heart one of Tasmania's early Old Colonial Georgian rural homesteads.
The 320m2 residence is entered via a deep verandah. Inside, the long, wide hallway leads to a number of rooms, including a large living room, 5 bedrooms and a bathroom. A side hallway leads you to the service and domestic quarters and includes the 6th bedroom, dining/living room, charming country kitchen, pantry, laundry/bathroom and several utility and storage rooms. A hidden narrow staircase leads upstairs to the servants' attic rooms. Under the servants' stairs is a rare hidden "bolt-hole" room, intended as a secure hideaway in the event of bushranger attacks. 
Dunrobin is recognised for its distinctive asymmetrical, stuccoed brick design with a corrugated iron hipped roof, boxed eaves, and simple chimneys. Internally, many original Georgian features have been retained, including fireplaces, multi-pane sash windows and classical Greek/Egyptian influence around the main entrance door, side and fan lights, bay windows, French doors, high ceilings, wide floorboards and archways. A radial fanlight is also evident in the gabled loft that originally housed the domestic servants.

The property is situated on 26.47ha of fertile land and river flats. The garden includes mature English deciduous and native trees, expansive lawns, flower beds overlooking the Derwent River. Outbuildings include convict built sandstone stables and coach house, barn, a stone apple house and cookhouse, and a quaint colonial cottage ripe for restoration. The restored stables and loft are a perfect commercial opportunity for an astute buyer. The 6ha vineyard producing pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wines is currently leased to a local leading winemaker and provides a good income for the property. A large corrugated shed is ideal for machinery storage or further parking for a car collection. Dunrobin is serviced by mains power and a 50 megalitre water right for irrigation and a 5 megalitre stock and domestic water right.
Dunrobin is located 11 km from the agricultural township of Ouse. The region is well known for fishing, the award winning Lawrenny whisky and spirits distillery, cherry production, pristine wilderness and Mt Field National Park. Dunrobin is only a 50km drive to New Norfolk and 80km to Hobart. 
Dunrobin offers an exciting opportunity to secure one of Australia's early and important rural country houses and complex of historic sandstone outbuildings suitable as a unique heritage tourism venture, weekend country escape or a gracious family country estate.
For private inspections, contact Dominic Romeo
dominicromeo@historicproperty.com.au      
0438500277