PAST MASTER

WHEN Colette Goyne worked as a primary school teacher, her favourite part of the job was teaching children about Tasmanian history.

So when she heard about a job as a storyteller at Hobart’s MACq 01 Hotel two years ago, which involved giving guests historical tours of Hobart, she decided it was time for a career change.

And the now 50 year old from Mt Stuart says she has no regrets about making the switch, as she loves being able to share her passion for Hobart’s history with others.

“I was teaching primary school children and I often used drama to get kids interested in history,” she explains.

“When the opportunity came up to work as a storyteller I thought, ‘I love history and I love walking and talking’ – it just sounded perfect. “And I do absolutely love it.”

Originally from Sydney, Goyne moved to Tasmania 15 years ago.

Her father’s family hails from Tasmania so she’d always felt connected to the state and was fascinated to move here and learn more about the state’s history.

On her busiest days the full-time storyteller runs multiple 60- and 90-minute tours a day, for both tourists and locals.

She also works with conference delegates, school students and other groups who visit the hotel.

Any free time Goyne has is spent doing extra research to dig up new facts about Tasmania’s fascinating inhabitants, both past and present.

MACq 01 prides itself on being a storytelling hotel with each of its 114 rooms associated with a different Tasmanian character, celebrating everyone from Aboriginal inhabitants, convict settlers and whalers to modern day sporting heroes and movie stars. Goyne is one of four storytellers (two full-time, two casual) who are employed to share their stories.

MACq 01 history tours are free for guests, or $20 for the general public. Call 6210 7600 for more information.