port officer’s house

project: Port Officer’s House

Location: Battery Point, Tasmania

Description: Port Officers House 1830s site meets 2017 on Salamanca Place

Port Officer’s House behoves that wonderful fascination… ‘What is behind that door?’

Situated on the end of a row 19th century terraces along historic Salamanca Place is a little house built on a tiny sliver of land measuring only 4 metres wide. It is the original site of the Hobart Port Officer’s residence c.1830, yet only two remnant sandstone walls remained along its boundaries. An original shed was recycled that fronts Salamanca Place now with two rusted doors and a contemporary mural depicting the Derwent River and Hunter Island – a rear-view capturing a scene prior to British colonisation. However, this impression belies what lies behind. Step inside and you enter a wonderland of intricate light-filled spaces that frame river, mountains, and sky views of Hobart.

The house is a compact arrangement of spaces carved out of convict built sandstone walls, cavernous underground rooms feature pick-marked blocks, now bathed in sunlight that descends through glass floors and skylights overhead. Main rooms lead out to expansive decks and a bedroom with a plunge bath looks into an enclosed delicate courtyard.

The result is a happy house, off-grid it is powered by solar PV panels, and whilst compact, it is expansive and filled with sparkling sunlight. The sort of place you’d want to stay in awhile, admire the harbour setting, but could also imagine having a delirious party in.

category: residential, heritage

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