History of McCauley’s

The cottage was built in 1846 for the town's second ranked Anglican priest, with the size and style befitting minor gentry - a formal loungeroom plus separate family sitting room, comfortable sized rooms and classy joinery.

Sold by the Church in 1905 to Christopher Busch, a shoemaker with his shop next door, the cottage then became the family home of the McCauley’s from 1919 until I bought it in 1975 - in need of repair.

For me (a believer in “the garden of Eden”) what began as a weekend lifestyle and technology project, progressed to living there in 1978 and 79 .... but I ran out of money, got a job back in Hobart and moved away again [one day I will write the story including my discovery of 'The rule 7 of renovating' and link to it from here].

As tourism grew in Tasmania in the early 1980'’s others pioneered the conversion of old buildings for “colonial accommodation”. Green protestors against construction of a dam on the Gordon River made global news, won Commonwealth Government support for World Heritage listing of a large section of western rain forest in 1984, put Tasmania's wilderness on the international tourist map and increased significantly the numbers of visitors travelling through Hamilton...

I figured that since tourists seemed to be enjoying ordinary little old places, then they would really go for McCauley’s ... and that Hamilton is very well located for more hospitality. So the McCauley’s accommodation business was conceived.

Another business operator advised me to turn the house into two units, but it would have been vandalism to have ruined this house that way. My strategy instead has been to share the gorgeousness of it, to create further upon the building, to develop not merely an accommodation product but a high quality real lifestyle experience for clients, something of much higher value.

McCauley’s commenced as self catering historic cottage visitor accommodation in November 1989.

Improvements are continuous ... the bathroom was re-renovated in October 2002 to meet full disabled access standards and provide underfloor heating (a warm bathroom floor is like heaven)... there is a new raspberry patch and more strawberries for the coming season ...

Tariff:

Our tariff offers extra good value to families.
$205.00 for the house (two people)
plus $25.00 for each extra person(cot free)
which includes a range and quantity of breakfast provisions (including local free range eggs), plus other kitchen and laundry provisioning, plus herbs, vegies, berries and fruit from the garden and a number of other extras and bonuses (including free internet access). 

LESS DISCOUNTS:  We offer a 10% discount to Seniors, AAA members, for direct internet booking and on Friday nights.  

We will negotiate additional discount in Off Peak Seasons, for children, multiple day stays and on Standby.

We have a discounted weekly rate of $1000 for one or two people plus $100 per extra person.

From time to time we will also offer special Accommodation, Meals, Wine and Massage 'luxury treat' packages.

Online Reservation - Click Here

PLEASE NOTE: We do not require payment in advance to secure a booking.

Owners and hosts
Roger Zantuck and Kim Valentine
phone (03) 6286 3232, fax (03) 6286 3258
E-mail: info@hamiltonheritageholidayhomes.com.au

Post to: Hamilton Tasmania 7140 Australia

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Barter Card, EFTPOS , Direct Debit and Cash.

Our policy is for credit card details to confirm a booking.

We endeavour to rebook when arrangements change, so we do not ask for a deposit.

However if late notice prevents us re-booking then a cancellation fee will apply.

We take your safety very seriously and must therefore point out that this old house and its garden may contain unfamiliar hazards. The property has special character because it offers a real experience of another lifestyle; it is not a sanitised replica. Please keep this in mind and be careful and cautious throughout your stay.

Children especially need to know that polished floors are slippery, and stairs are dangerous. Swings, tree climbing and garden exploring are good fun here, provided old fashioned care and good behaviour is used to keep safe.

Similarly, your care and good behaviour will keep our heritage property safe. It is appropriate to make clear that fair wear and tear is included in the tariff, but the cost of breakage and/or damage will be added to your account.

People with phobias are warned that animals, birds and insects live in the local environment (our garden). Fortunately, Tasmania is comparitively free of poisonous and/or aggressive wild life; and since we do make an effort to keep the house free of creepy crawlies and rodents, we can be certain that there will not be dangerous creatures inside. However, guests should not expect this genuine historic cottage to be at all times totally free of other life.