86 High Street, Oatlands

There are properties you stay in, and properties that stay with you. Raffah House is the latter.



Built in the 1840s and sympathetically restored to a standard that earned it a feature in Australian House & Garden, this Georgian sandstone home sits in the heart of Oatlands — Tasmania's finest heritage town — and manages the rare trick of feeling both genuinely historic and thoroughly, luxuriously comfortable. The sandstone walls, original character and period details are all present. So is underfloor heating in the bathroom, a deep soaking tub, and complimentary gin and tonics waiting on arrival.



Three beautifully styled bedrooms sleep up to six guests. Two master queen bedrooms are finished with the kind of attention to detail that shows — high-quality bed linen, considered styling, and the warmth that comes from a home that's been genuinely thought about rather than simply furnished. A third bedroom with two single beds makes the configuration equally suited to families or groups of friends. The 1.5 bathrooms serve the house comfortably, with that deep bath the clear centrepiece — the kind you run before you've even unpacked.



Two fireplaces — gas in the living area, and a roaring wood fireplace in the dining room — set the tone for how evenings tend to go here. There's a curated selection of Tasmanian wines available for purchase, a well-appointed kitchen with everything needed to cook a proper dinner, and a kitchen garden just outside the back door for those who want to pick fresh herbs for the table. The living area with its smart TV and free WiFi handles quieter nights equally well, but honestly, the fire tends to win.



The focus shifts outside — a generous alfresco setting, a BBQ and a firepit in a courtyard framed by the original sandstone barn and established gardens. It's the sort of outdoor space that invites long, unhurried afternoons. A fully equipped laundry handles the practicalities, and off-street parking means arrival is straightforward.



Oatlands is not simply picturesque — it is one of the most intact Georgian streetscapes in the southern hemisphere, and spending time here feels meaningfully different from a standard country town stop. High Street is lined with sandstone buildings dating to the 1820s and 1830s, and almost everything worth doing is within easy walking distance of Raffah House.



Vintage on High is directly across the road — a café-meets-antique-shop that makes for an excellent first morning coffee. Bunch Cafe is a local favourite for breakfast and brunch, and the Pancake and Crepe Shop does exactly what it promises. For something more substantial, the Kentish Hotel is a proper country pub serving cold Cascade Draught and hearty meals, and The Imbibers stocks a thoughtful selection of Tasmanian wines, gins and artisan produce — the ideal starting point before a night cooking in. The local IGA in town is only a few minutes walk down the road and will supply everything you may need for a comfortable stay.



Callington Mill — the iconic 1837 windmill at the end of High Street — houses an award-winning whisky and gin distillery with a cellar door worth a visit for a tasting flight or a bottle to take home. The Jardin Room, a French-inspired garden emporium set in a historic sandstone building, and Elm Cottage's selection of homewares and local fashion are among the boutique highlights. Hollinson's rounds it out with specialty Tasmanian timbers, gifts and a bakery worth stopping into.



For those who want to stretch their legs, a morning walk around Lake Dulverton — a wildlife sanctuary on the edge of town, famous for misty dawns and abundant birdlife — is a genuinely lovely way to start the day.



Hobart is approximately an hour's drive, making Raffah House an ideal base for exploring the wider Tasmanian Midlands — a region of open farmland, historic villages and quiet, expansive country that doesn't get the attention it deserves.