Ship Inn Stanley
Right at the top of Tasmania's north-west is a guesthouse built over 170 years ago in the historic town of Stanley.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Marnie Hawson
Kerry and Alastair Houston worked tirelessly to uncover the historic secrets of the remarkable two storey, 1849 property. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
“I love that this building was built by Michael Lyons, the grandfather of Prime Minister Jo Lyons. How amazing is that?” shares Kerry Houston. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
History seeps into each and every detail within the guesthouse. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
As you check-in at Ship Inn Stanley, we are reminded of the rich heritage and history of the area and the inn thanks to the aged timber desk, maritime antiquities, and the captain's portrait that watches over you. With the help of designers Lynda Gardener and Belle Hemming from Inside Story, the formally Hobart-based owners, Kerry and Alastair Houston, have brought the 1849 building into 2020, replicating the vintage magic but with all the modern luxuries.
History seeps into the fabric of the guesthouse, and this was something Kerry and Alastair wanted to honour. The accommodation had been trading as a pub for 150 years, before closing its doors in 1972. Fast forward to a couple of years ago, and the new owners had stumbled across Stanley, falling in love with the area thanks to its close resemblance to Alastair’s family holiday home in Talisker Bay on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland.
All suites are bathed in timeless elegance with impeccable attention to detail. Historical artefacts, original artwork, bespoke joinery and custom fittings abound. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
After deciding to buy a little cottage in the town, the family would travel the five hours between Hobart and Stanley for holidays, when they finally decided to move here permanently — buying the old inn. "I’ve always loved interiors, so this is like a dream come true to get beautiful suites ready for guests to enjoy,” Kerry shares. “We were based in Hobart and life was too fast with too much commuter time."
“I love that there is a magical view outside each window. I’ve been known to stop making up beds to gaze at whales or dolphins in the bay… those are the pinch-me moments.”
The inn is housed within thick stone walls, and the interior rooms contrast the yellow exterior that pops out against the surrounding, rugged, Tasmanian nature. Each suite is named after a narrative from within the town. From the Moo-Nut-Re-Ker Suite, inspired by the 143-metre-high massif, rising from the Bass Strait, The Nut, which can be seen from the suite’s private courtyard. Or the Wildwave, reached by a set of 100-year-old timber staircase, dedicated to the memory of the tall ship that crashed on the shores on Stanley, the very one that can be seen in the room’s vista views.
Details in the kitchen space. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
Each suite is named after a narrative from within the town. Photo - Marnie Hawson.
“This area is usually so green and has such a strong sense of community; it's a wonderful place to live,” says Kerry Houston. Photo - Marnie Hawson.