New life for old school

Press, 14 June 1983, Page 26

New life for old school

No building in Launceston has had more historic connections than the Colonial Motor Inn. The establishment which now offers luxury accommodation and fine cuisine was formerly Launceston Grammar School, built in 1847 in the Tudor Elizabethan style. The longest continuous Public School in Australia, Launceston Grammar shaped the destiny of hundreds of prominent Australians, including three who were to head each of Australia’s three major airlines! In those far-off days last century scholars wore “bum. freezers” and wide Eton collars, and toiled at their lessons four days a week with quill and ink. Outside the classroom — now the Quill and Cane restaurant — the streets echoed with the sound of horses and carriages, bullocks, wandering cows and ‘ convict gangs at work in chains. —- Nowadays, the old world Colonial Motor Inn retains much of the original character of the former school, but the atmosphere is completely gracious, dignified and charming. Its counterpart in Hobart is the Lenna Motor Inn, at Battery Point, the restored handsome mansion of a nineteenth-century whaling magnate. New Zealanders wishing to embrace history in colonial-style accommodation are also advised to consider fine old colonial homes. Eight historic homes throughout Tasmania are available as part of self-: drive holiday packages offered by Tasbureau. Including a rental car and bed and breakfast on a twin share basis, the package (at the time of writing) costs around SA2SO. The properties include three cottages in Hobart (Colville, Cromwell and Barton Cottages) as well as Prospect House in historic Richmond, Rose Cottage at Lisdillon, Waverley Cottage at Oatlands and the Wilmot Arms at Kempton.