The Bowmont; Franklin, Tasmania

Words by Sibella Court

Images by William Meppem

 

 

 

Just under an hour outside of Hobart - a lovely drive down roads lined with apple, nectarine, pear and plum trees - you’ll find The Bowmont, overlooking the Huon River in the village of Franklin. We’ve coveted staying there ever since discovering it on Instagram, and on our whirlwind trip to Tasmania in late summer, we had the opportunity to do just that.

   

   

Starting its life as a bank at the beginning of the 20th century, the dignified cream and red building retains the telltale scale of a commercial structure, with large windows letting the sun flood into high-ceilinged rooms. Today, kitchen and dining rooms make themselves at home in what used to be ‘teller’ rooms at the front of the building, while a trip up the heritage-listed blackwood staircase takes you to the top floor containing two bedrooms, a library, satellite kitchen and bathroom for guests.

 

  

  

   

Like seemingly everywhere in this leafy valley, the garden is bursting with ornamentals and edibles. Our lovely host, Michelle Crawford, welcomed us with a home-baked apricot lattice tart crammed with apricot preserves she makes from Cane’s stonefruit orchard down the road.

 

  

    

    

   

What do you love about this place?

 

The weather, cool winters, warm summers, distinctly four seasons.  The apples, the best I’ve ever tasted. The landscape, ancient, misty and green.  

  

 

 

The best places to explore? 

  

The ever-changing river, the heritage wooden boats, and the village atmosphere. There’s a strong sense of community here, filled with eccentric characters in holey jumpers with scruffy dogs.

From the river you can see the Egg Island Reserve, a thriving sanctuary for threatened plant and animal species. You can take a grebe, or kayak, and row through the oldest still-operating manmade canal in Australia that cuts through the middle of the island. Grasses line the banks and tall trees arch across the canal. Listening to the bird song as you drift along, it’s like a quiet refuge from the noise of the world–so magical.

   

Visit the roadside stalls to get delicious fresh produce right from the grower’s hands.

 

  

When to come & what to bring?

 

  

 

Gallery

  

  

 

 

  

 

Thanks for having us, Michelle! You can stay at The Bowmont too. Visit @thebowmont on Instagram or  www.thebowmont.com.au to book your stay or peruse the latest workshops https://www.thebowmont.com.au/events Michelle and her roster of creatives are running. 

 

 

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