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Glen Derwent History
The land on which Glen Derwent stands was granted to the Norfolk Island convict Brian Cullen in 1808.
On this original grant of 64 acres Cullen built the current homestead between 1817 and 1820 with the assistance of convict labour. The property is a very early Tasmanian example of a colonial house and farm buildings, and is classified by The National Trust and included on the Tasmanian Heritage Council Register.
After Brian Cullen's death in 1821 his wife Elizabeth struggled to maintain the property, finally selling it in 1824. A few years later the new owner converted it to a coaching Inn and leased it to a Jewish former convict named Oscar Davies. In 1829 it is recorded as being called the "King of Prussia Inn" named no doubt after the licensee's homeland in Europe.
Some years later with a different licensee the Inn's name was changed to “Elwin’s Hotel”. It was here in the early 1850's that for two and a half years it was home to the exiled Irish revolutionary William Smith O’Brien. Smith O’Brien was the leader of the failed Irish uprising and rebellion in 1848, following the potato famines in Ireland. Smith O’Brien spent some time at Maria Island, then Port Arthur for a few months, and then came his time at Glen Derwent where he rented an upstairs room with adjoining lounge for £6 per month. Although still a convict and in exile, he was permitted by the authorities to roam the district with considerable freedom.
Elwin, the licensee at this time also had the license for the stage coach run from Glen Derwent to Glen Clyde House in Hamilton, approximately 35 km's away.
William and Mary Downie purchased the property in 1854, they changed the name to Glen Derwent, which reflected their Scottish heritage, and changed its use to farming. Early on this was mainly hop growing. It remained with the Downie family for over 100 years during which time it was a successful hop farm and later a dairy farm. The picturesque sandstone hop kiln, built around 1870 forms one side of the old farm quadrangle. Other evidence of the property’s hop growing past is in the large cast iron gate valves in paddocks, and closer to the house near the mulberry tree next to the old tennis court. As the hop industry declined after the Second World War Glen Derwent gradually transformed yet again to become a dairy farm, and parts of the land were sold. The property once extended over the highway and included land that is now the New Norfolk Golf Club. In 1961 the property was sold to the Oakley family who continued on with it as a dairy farm.
In 1989 the Oakley's sold Glen Derwent to Malcolm and Barbara Lewena. For the next 18 months the Lewena's undertook a period of extensive restoration and conversion with the object of Glen Derwent becoming a boutique Bed and Breakfast establishment. No expense was spared by the Lewena's in the restoration to ensure authenticity and compatibility with the colonial craftsmanship and methodology used in the construction of Glen Derwent. Their efforts are a testament to what can be achieved in preserving our historic buildings, yet bringing them into a state which enables them to be used in conjunction with 21st century comforts.
Glen Derwent operated as a boutique Bed and Breakfast for a number of years after its restoration, however now, in the ownership of Stan and Carol Durkin it has reverted to being a most comfortable private home.
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