a few days in Stanley, Tasmania staying @VDL

 

After the arrival of our latest shipment the store has been very busy.  We are putting pieces out daily and sending other pieces all over the countryside.  So we decided to take a little mini break in Stanley, my favourite coastal town situated on the North West of Tasmania.  It is a good 5 hours drive from Hobart, but very much worth the distance. 

 

Stanley is famous for The Nut an ancient volcanic formation overlooking the historic fishing village (image of The Nut later in this post).  The village was settled in 1826 and even today is home to less than 500 people.  The original settlers were workers from the Van Diemen's Land Company, who were granted land in 1825.  So the most fitting place to stay is @VDL a boutique accommodation in the original stone VDL Company Store.  It was built in 1843 and sits no more than 20 metres from the waters edge and a short walk from the village.  My idea of heaven!



 The architecture is European in style and it is built out of bluestone with colonial winidows.

The grounds are beautifully kept and gives a very welcoming feeling upon arrival. 

The downstairs shared lounge area is inviting and tastefully furnished.  The huon pine trunk is hand made by a local craftsman in the village.  If you fall in love, you can walk up the street and buy one!

 

We got settled in and strolled to the village.

  

 

We stocked up on some supplies at the local providore.  They bake their own bread (coming straight out of the oven as we walked in the door) and have a modest but good selection of cheeses and other goodies. 



 

Next stop was the browndog homewares and gift store, owned I believe by the @VDL managers. 

 

  

 

Comfy and earthy homewares displayed in the browndog store.  I love the big canvas floor cushions.  



 

 

I also fell in love with these little porcelain lamps, perfect for a little person's room. 

 

  

 

They also stock local products such as the Stanley Soap Co soaps, these looked yummy enough to eat. 

 

 

Dinner was at Xanders Brasserie, a local and tourist favourite.  







 The specials board consisted of as many dishes as the menu.  It made it quite hard to choose!  But I settled on the seafood cornucopia, Xander's version of a fisherman's basket.  I managed to fit it all in, but only just! 

 The village consists of many beautiful cottages, such as this one above. This one would date from the late 19th century and sits above the top road of the village with the nut behind. 

The next day was very windy and the chair lift to the top of the nut was not operating for safety reasons.  So it was a morning trek to the top.  But I loved every minute of the hard slog.  Well maybe not loved, but it was certainly a good feeling working off the seafood cornucopia from the night before!  I didn't really enjoy almost blowing off the nut, though.  A walk on the beach in the afternoon was great for taking photos and just enjoying nature.

And then the journey up to Highfield, a historic farm and residence built in the 1830s on the hill overlooking Stanley and the nut.  On the road up to Highfield are these ruins, they look like two entrances from an early building. 

Another ruin on the way to Highfield.  This was actually the original convict quarters and dates to the 1830s.

 

Highfield is built in the Regency style, partly evidenced by the gorgeous verandah.  Highfield is open to visitors.  I have already been through the property a few times so on this occasion I admired it from afar.  I do recommend a tour though if you ever have the opportunity. 

 

I am back home now preparing for the Runnymede antiques fair that begins this coming Friday the 12th October (see previous post).  I will post pictures from the fair early next week. 

 

Have a wonderful week