7 Swanston Street

New Town TAS 7008

A dual access driveway sweeps around the attractive fret worked and flag stoned trellis verandah on three sides of the villa to a commanding Tuscan portico with towering columns and tympanum above.
Then, a leadlight entry with doors with a beautiful stained glass lunette window over and which open to the most stunning of reception halls with a combination of Regency and Italianate architectural features. It has a towering barrel vaulted ceiling with roses and a chandelier, the walls have reeded pilasters extending through the vaulting, the curved corners have display niches, the floor is Baltic pine and it continues through double doors with another glazed lunette above, into a capacious rear foyer.
On either side of the hall are two large living rooms, three of which have fireplaces with marble mantels imported from England.
There's an exquisite formal lounge with a huge ceiling rose and chandelier, wide crown cornices, open fireplace with marble mantel and surround and rare Birds-eye Huon Pine skirting boards and colonial window frames, including an arched bay, incorporating a French door to the north facing verandah return.
With similar period features and inter-linking, there's a music/drawing room and a library, each with coalgrate fireplace and a marble mantel.
The formal dining room has a coalgrate fireplace with a timber mantle, polished Baltic pine floor, rose and chandelier, a window with French doors to the verandah. There is a door through to an early 20th century family room which has an open fireplace with a sandstone surround, an off-peak storage heater and a large boxed double glazed skylight with a pressed tin ceiling. The room incorporates a Myrtle kitchen with a cork tile floor, a walk-in pantry, a stove, a dishwasher and an adjoining cosy sunroom with a timber ceiling.
The huge rear foyer has a Baltic pine floor as well as a built-in closet containing a handy wood box and with storage under, there's a wide and carpeted staircase to the upper level.
There is a short step-down to the servants entrance lobby leading to a bathroom with a skylight, a bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and opposite is an entrance to a spacious self-contained flat with a view to Mt Wellington and access to a walled courtyard and the nearby garden with a sunken and paved barbecue area.
The servants lobby entrance door opens to the south eastern verandah return with its huge trapdoor entry leading down to a large cellar with sandstone walls and ceiling beams.
Also at the rear of the house is an arched hallway, providing access to another three bedrooms that have been tastefully redecorated. One has built-ins, picture rails and a dressing table built into a high fireplace, probably part of the original kitchens, a second has French doors to the front garden while the master has a walk-in robe, an open fireplace, picture rails and an en suite bathroom.
At the top of the staircase there is a study or additional bedroom and a doorway to an expansive and sunny roof-top garden area with panoramic views across the suburbs to Mt Wellington around to the River Derwent and The Meehan Range.
On one corner is a lovely sleep-out, an ideal hide-a-way. There's also access to two large attic rooms, once the garret quarters for serving staff.
The rooftop also provides an excellent perspective of the beautiful gardens with areas of lawn, mature shade trees and many European flowering plants, including large rhododendrons.
There's a pavilion with barbecue shelter and away on the other side of the tiered garden, an orchid house with sandstone patio. There is a lined double garage with power, an auto roller door, an attached carport and a nearby timber storage shed.
On the Tasmanian Heritage Council register, Sunnyside is testimony to the wealth generated by maritime related industry in colonial times.
It is understood that anti-transportation meeting were held in Sunnyside in the 1850's
It was designed by colonial Government architect William Porden Kay for shipping and whaling businessman Thomas Chapman and his wife Catherine.
About five kilometers' from the city centre, the home originally had grounds of nearly 250 hectares.