Elegant Calstock up for sale
The iconic Calstock property in Deloraine is expected to sell fo $10 million. Photo supplied by Knight Frank.
Deloraine’s historic Calstock property is for sale and is estimated to sell for more than $10m.
On 12 hectares, the elegant Georgian mansion was described by former owners, Peppers hotel chain, as “a stunning example of Tasmania's grand pioneering homes”.
Current owner Trevor Evans bought the Highland Lakes Rd property for around $3.5m from Terence Fahey and Bronwyn Shakespear, who had bought it for $3.15m in September 2018. It’s believed Mr Evans has spent between $3m and $5m renovating Calstock.
Sam Woolcock of Knight Frank commented, “In the current market the asking price is hard to gauge but given the demand for historic Tasmanian homes and the scale of the restoration it would not surprise me if it exceeded $10 million."
According to Early Houses of Northern Tasmania by Graeme Robertson and Edith Craig, the original Calstock land grant was made to Lt. Pearson Foote in 1830. He is said to have named the property after Calstock in Devonshire, England.
In the past 20 years several owners have left their mark on the Calstock home, which contains 11 bedrooms. The property’s land has substantially diminished in that time.
Remi and Ginette Bancal substantially renovated Calstock in the early 2000s; its current owner has created seven guest suites.
Referencing the local Aboriginal people, Calstock Estate’s website says, “The original stables still exist and have been lovingly restored to encompass a commercial kitchen, the Quamby Guest Lounge, Pallitore Dining Room and the Palawa Workshop Space.”
Calstock’s Australian claim to fame relates to early owner John Field’s breeding of two Melbourne Cup winner in those stables: Malua won in 1884 and Sheet Anchor in 1885.
According to Tasmanian author Alan Dyer, John Field was the third son of successful convict William Field, part of a Tasmanian family owning prominent properties and huge tracts of land.
“Upon his marriage in 1854, he moved into Calstock Deloraine, an estate he purchased the year before. John and his brother Tom shared the responsibility of managing their thousands of cattle,” Mr Dyer wrote.
“In 1863 John was elected to the first Deloraine Council. When his racing stable produced the winners of the Melbourne Cup in 1884 and 1885, Calstock Deloraine became known as the principal breeding place of race horses in the colony.
“Widely known as the sporting Squire of Calstock, John Field was Deloraine’s largest property owner. He had a family of two sons and four daughters.”
Early Houses of Northern Tasmania says John Field was responsible for building the main part of the Calstock home in the 1850s.
