Runnymede

Beautifully preserved 1840 house and gardens.

While Australia’s mainland colonies experienced a severe economic depression in the 1840s, Tasmania remained prosperous owing to unpaid convict labour and industries such as wool production and whaling.

Runnymede represents Tasmania’s golden age. This Regency marine villa was built by lawyer Robert Pitcairn and Dorothea Pitcairn c1836-1840 and extended by Tasmania’s first Anglican Bishop, Francis Russell Nixon who resided there between 1850 and 1862. Captain Charles Bayley then acquired the house and named it Runnymede after his favourite whaling ship. The Bayley and Bayly families resided in the house for over a century.

Enjoy a guided tour of this gracious house with its elegant furnishings, fascinating maritime collections and verdant gardens.

Garden: Original 19th century villa garden including a carriage drive surrounding the house, 1840s stables and coach house, cast iron fountain, historic trees and plantings.

Plan your Visit

Runnymede

Address:

61 Bay Road, New Town, Hobart 7008
(15 minutes by car from Hobart CBD via the Brooker Highway)

Open:

Closed Anzac Day

Open for tours Friday to Sunday, 10am–3pm
Guided tours start on the hour from 10am. Last tour starts at 2pm

Bookings preferred (see link below)

Closed:

Closed Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day & Good Friday
Closed July and August

Phone:

(03) 6278 1269

Email:

runnymede@nationaltrusttas.org.au

Website:

https://nationaltrusttas.rezdy.com/

Entry Fees:

Adult $15 | Concession $12 | Child $5 (aged 7-16 yrs) | Family $35 | National Trust Members & children 6 yrs and under FREE

What we offer:

Nearby attractions: Hobart CBD, Penitentiary Chapel and Criminal Courts and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

"From the minute you arrive in the fabulous old garden, maintained by wonderful volunteers, to being warmly received by your guide, Runnymede is a delight."

One of many 5 star TripAdvisor reviews

Tours & Experiences

Explore the house and gardens with an informative guided tour.

Find Out More & Book Now

School Tours

This one hour guided tour helps students learn about the social and cultural traditions of the 19th century, the role of servants, and the workings of a self-sufficient estate.

Find out more

Private Functions

Runnymede house and gardens are also available for private events.
"The venue is gorgeous, the staff are amazing and they will bend over backwards to make sure that your event runs brilliantly."
Enquiries to: runnymede@nationaltrusttas.org.au

Conference & Business Events

From ‘Captain’s Cocktails’ to private sit-down dinners or high teas, this very special venue can accommodate up to 50 in the drawing room, or up to 150 in a marquee in the historic gardens. Add-on tours and theatre experiences also available.
For an info pack, email: runnymede@nationaltrusttas.org.au

Three Favourite Things

Seaweed patterns such as the one shown on this Chamberlains Worcester dinner service (c. 1830) were once very popular and graced Tasmanian homes from the 1820s. This service was purchased by the National Trust but coincidentally, after it had been put on display at Runnymede, one of the volunteer gardeners found a small shard of seaweed pattern china in the garden.

Three Favourite Things

This pair of elegant bamboo and cane arm chairs, dating from the early mid-19th century, were brought to Tasmania by Captain Bayley. The Bayley brothers, Charles and James, sent their ships to trade in China and regularly brought back furnishings and decorative objects to furnish their homes.

Three Favourite Things

Made from sandalwood overlaid with a micro mosaic of ivory, mother of pearl, ebony and cut steel, this work box dates from the mid-19th century. It was imported into the Van Diemen's Land colony from Western India as part of the Anglo Indian trade. Inside a lady could place all her cottons, threads and small pieces of needlework.