Free Settlers Cottage
Four restored 1840s cottages within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Book one, two, or all four. Couples and group accommodation in Longford, 20 minutes from Launceston.
Exterior
Cottage exterior with stone chimney
Coopers
Coopers Cottage entrance with hydrangeas
Living
Open-plan living with original staircase
Lounge
Cosy lounge with timber staircase
Fireplace
Wood heater in convict-brick fireplace
Garden
Cottage garden flowers against heritage wall
Precinct
Heritage precinct
Window Detail
Lattice window with hydrangeas
Four Cottages, One Heritage Precinct
The Free Settlers Cottages are four individually named heritage cottages arranged in two semi-attached pairs within the grounds of Woolmers Estate: Blacksmiths and Coopers sit side by side, as do Orchardists and Shepherds.
Each cottage sleeps two, with a king bed in an upstairs loft and self-contained living below. Wood heater, electric heating, electric blankets, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and free WiFi. The loft-style layout gives each cottage a sense of space that feels larger than its 80m².
What makes these cottages different is the flexibility. Each works perfectly as standalone couples accommodation in Tasmania. But unlock the adjoining door between a pair, and two couples or a group of four can share while keeping separate bedrooms and living areas. Book all four cottages and you take over an entire precinct of the estate, which makes them ideal for group getaways, milestone celebrations or friends travelling together in Tasmania.
Every stay includes General Admission to Woolmers Estate, the Unshackled convict experience, the National Rose Garden and after-hours access to the entire 13-hectare grounds.
At a Glance
The Four Cottages
Blacksmiths Cottage
Named for the estate’s blacksmith, whose 1822 workshop still stands nearby, complete with original slate roof and unglazed windows.
- Paired with Coopers Cottage · Adjoining door available
Coopers Cottage
Named for the cooper who made barrels for the estate’s cider, wool and grain operations.
- Paired with Blacksmiths Cottage · Adjoining door available
Orchardists Cottage
Named for the workers who tended the extensive orchards that once covered this part of the property. Remnant apple trees in the nearby walled garden are the last trace of those orchards.
- Paired with Shepherds Cottage · Adjoining door available
Shepherds Cottage
Named for the shepherds who managed the Archer family’s flocks. Wool was central to the estate’s prosperity, processed in one of the oldest surviving two-storey shearing sheds in Australia, just a short walk away.
- Paired with Orchardists Cottage · Adjoining door available
Good to Know
The loft bedrooms are accessed via original 1840s stairs that are narrow and steep. These cottages may not be suitable for guests with mobility concerns. The Gardener’s Cottage offers ground-level accommodation as an alternative.
If you’re booking as a group, let us know and we’ll arrange adjoining pairs. Blacksmiths and Coopers connect, as do Orchardists and Shepherds. For larger groups, all four cottages can be booked together.
Longford is 7km from the estate, with a well-stocked supermarket for self-catering supplies. The Rose Garden Café is open each morning for breakfast, and five chef-prepared dinner boxes ($40 per person) can be ordered at least 24 hours in advance. The Servants Kitchen is stocked with tea, coffee, milk and essentials until 6:30pm.
What Guests Say
The Free Settlers' Story
These cottages were built in pairs by convict labour in the 1840s, when Woolmers Estate was at its most active. They provided accommodation for the free settlers who worked alongside assigned convicts on the property.
The name “free settlers” distinguished these workers from the convicts. Under Australia’s Assignment System, convicts were sent to work on private properties like Woolmers, where they learned trades and contributed to building colonial Tasmania. Free settlers were the paid workers who held positions of greater responsibility or skill.
The cottages have stone foundations and were built from handmade convict bricks produced on the estate itself. The stairs are original, built in the 1840s. They creak. The loft ceilings are low. That’s the character of sleeping inside genuine heritage, not a reconstruction.
Free Settlers Cottage
4 Cottages · Sleeps 2 each
King bed in upstairs loft, self-contained living below
Adjoining Doors Available
Book a pair or all four for group getaways
Estate Access Included
General Admission, Unshackled & after-hours grounds
Accommodation
Check-in from 2pm · Checkout by 10am
Guided House Tour: discounted for guests, free for 2+ night stays
Cancellation: 48+ hrs 20% fee · Under 24 hrs 50% fee