Makeover for grand mansion
New owner’s vision for Claremont House
ONE of Hobart’s most historically significant mansions has new owners – and they have big plans for the heritage-listed home.
Located in the middle of the suburb that bears the property’s name, the grand 25-plus room 1839-built home has been bought by David and Anne Kernke.
The couple share a passion for preserving historic properties, most recently the international award-winning Shene Estate at Pontville. Now Claremont House is their next challenge.
A walk through the home today shows just how much has changed since the property’s sale settled in February.
What was the restaurant dining room is now a grand living space.
Mrs Kernke said their goal was to refine and elevate the home, to continue the work of the previous owner Joel Van Sanden.
“Claremont House reminds me of my childhood, growing up in country Victoria,” she said.
“It is a property of special treasures, a home that has a great energy.”
Mr Kernke, a former chair of the National Trust of Queensland, says the couple has dedicated their lives to heritage conservation and sympathetic adaptive reuse of historic buildings such as Shene.
“It was Anne that fell in love with Claremont House, initially I did not know much about it,” he said.
“I have discovered that this is a delightful part of the world to live in.
“Where else can you find a heritage home on so much land and this close to the city; that probably doesn’t exist anywhere in Australia.”
The Kernkes have plans under way to replace the home’s roof, paint the exterior and interiors and some carpentry projects.
The grounds and gardens will be given a major makeover, under the guidelines of Heritage Tasmania’s Conservation Management Plan.
“There is so much fascinating history here, starting with Lachlan Macquarie’s land grant to John Pascoe Faulkner,” Mr Kernke said.
“I cannot think of a better place to live, to be honest.”
In turning the former restaurant and accommodation business into a home, some things will need to go – such as the name plates on bedroom doors – while others will stay, like the gigantic 1890s-built billiards table.
In the billiards room there is a nod to former owner and Test cricket captain, Joe Darling.
Mrs Kernke said her favourite feature was found in the kitchen.
“I adore the butler’s pantry and its original wood fire stove. David is looking forward to getting it going again,” she said.
Claremont House was sold late last year by EIS Property senior consultant Deb Stephens in a multimillion dollar deal.
Claremont House was on the market for many years, she said.
“In the past, some agents had approached it as a commercial venture, which is understandable as it had been an amazing accommodation and restaurant business,” Ms Stephens said.
“My approach was to look at it as a grand family home. And Anne and David were the perfect purchasers for it.”