Bluebell Coach Inn
26 Somerville Street
Sorell
Tasmania 7172
Features
* Georgian sandstone and convict brick building
* Recently operated as guesthouse and restaurant
* Commercial zoning allowing various uses
* Short stroll to town centre
* Spacious sunny enclosed garden
Description
This historic sandstone gem (c1863) 25 minutes from Hobart in Southern Tasmania, was built on the site of the original old coaching inn The Blue Bell (c1823) which was destroyed by fire in 1863. The passing centuries have seen the gracious old building put to many and varied uses it can truly be said to have enjoyed a colourful past! An infamous 19th century Tasmanian bushranger is said to have bailed up the local constabulary in an adjacent building in the infant days of the colony.
In its time it has served as a maternity hospital, a private residence with its grand ballroom commandeered for use as a drill hall during WWI and most recently as a popular bandb and gourmet restaurant.
Currently the present owner has stripped the property down to its bare essentials to reveal the patina of old Huon pine, Oregon, Blackwood and Cedar timbers in the floors , doors and casement windows. It is now ready to start another phase in its varied life With its business zoning it can profitably be used for a range of purposes including a restaurant, coffee shop, tea rooms, art gallery, antique or furniture showrooms, or a gourmet food outlet or any combination of these. It also works well as a gracious family home for a large family or combined with any of the above uses. 11 ft high ceilings, beautiful old original floorboards, deep skirtings and open fireplaces are just some of the features characteristic of this era to be appreciated in this fine old building.
Within a total of 363 square metres there are currently
* 5 bedrooms each with private facilities
* An owner’s suite / or possible tearooms
* Kitchen
* Large elegant multi purpose room (showroom/restaurant/artgallery) which opens to the main street with its own separate entrance
* A grand ballroom/sittingroom on the first level
* Several smaller rooms which could variously serve as private sitting rooms, or a study, or an additional showroom.
* Historic cellar
* Significant attic space in the roof could be utilized to provide further facilities if required
A large private sunny rear garden with welcome shade provided by a mature willow tree (National Trust listed) requires a green thumb to provide a facelift to the soundly structured bones of this beautiful old garden.
Location
The property is well located to serve the tourism market being in the small but rapidly growing township of Sorell located at the junction of two major touring routes to the East Coast of Tasmania and also to the Tasman Peninsular. As the gateway to the South East it is close to many major tourist attractions including Richmond, Port Arthur Historic Site, local vineyards, national parks, golf courses and beaches. Whilst Sorell is an old township it is also a rapidly growing community close (5 minutes away) to the Hobart International Airport and the new nearby large-scale retail developments at Cambridge. It is one of Tasmania’s fastest growth corridors with significant developments taking place in the area.