Historic homestead to open its doors to the public

Many curious eyes have fallen on Lonsdale homestead near Kempton and wondered what stories lie behind its classic Georgian façade and the chunky stone of its outbuildings, still standing after nearly 200 years.

But lovers of built history will not have to wonder any longer when more than 11 amazing buildings of the Southern Midlands go on show over the weekend of November 1 and 2, 2025.

Open House Southern Midlands is being organised and run by the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, the same team behind Open House Hobart - an annual, free architecture event that opens some of Tasmania’s most unique and interesting buildings to the public. 

It is the local version of a global event, created by Victoria Thornton and first held in London in 1992, that is now staged in more than 50 cities around the world.

It gives visitors the chance to see how others live, work and play, have a sticky-beak, and see the towns and cities from a different angle.

Eleven buildings in and around Oatlands, Dysart and Kempton feature in the program which was launched at the Heritage and Bullock Festival at Oatlands last weekend.

These range from iconic churches in Oatlands and Kempton - some of which have been converted to new uses; colonial homesteads and cottages which have been restored, and in some instances, sympathetically added to with modern additions; a 1970s artists’ retreat in the hills of Mangalore; along with service buildings, including the Cantwell Store and the Melton Mowbray Hotel.

More buildings will be added to the program in the lead up to the event.

Lonsdale, now owned by Alan Townsend, rose from humble beginnings, starting modestly and then adding grandeur as prosperity allowed, like many farming homesteads in the area. 

The homestead started with what is now the back of the house – a Colonial Georgian stone and brick farmhouse built in 1823 - and transitions to a grander Victorian Georgian front, that was added in 1855. 

It represents stories of the rising fortunes of pastoralists at the time - tales of skilled craftsmen and ways of living, with a historic bread oven a remnant of the ways of life of classic Australian settlers. 

The scattering of old buildings surrounding the home show typical rural settlement patterns of the area. 

The rear part of the homestead, composed of exposed stonework, stone windowsills, and heavy timber lintels, holds secrets of the original shingle roof this is still hiding under the newer, galvanised iron roof. 

The six-room symmetrical front addition showcases mid nineteenth century construction methods, with pine dressed up to appear like mahogany, brick walls, small paned sash windows, timber panelled doors and beautiful slender posts, as well as layer-upon-layer of wallpaper. 

Mr Townsend, inspired by midnight revelations with a scraper and ladder - has gone from novice renovator to one of Tasmania’s leading specialists in historic wallpaper.

He has stabilised the building, opting to preserve its integrity, rather than ‘tart it up’.

Open House Hobart co-producer Jennifer Nichols said that Open House Southern Midlands will tell the stories of those who lived, worked and played in these spaces and places, and how they continue to tell the stories of the current custodians.

“Some of the buildings are iconic landmarks that we all know from our drives across the Midlands Highway, and our stopping points along the way, while others are more tucked away. We’re looking forward to revealing their secrets.”