Markree House Museum and Garden

Markree House Museum and Garden offers a glimpse into early 20th-century life in Hobart. Once the home of the prominent landscape gardener Cecil Baldwin and his family, the property has been restored to reflect its original character. Today, the house and garden are open to the public, providing insight into Tasmania’s architectural and cultural heritage.

The house was built in 1926 for Cecil Baldwin and his wife, Ruth, and remained in the family for several decades. Designed by Bernard Ridley Walker, it showcases the Arts and Crafts architectural style, which emphasised craftsmanship, simplicity and the use of natural materials. This style was popular in the early 20th century and is reflected in many elements of the house, including its timber detailing, stained glass and careful attention to design.

The interior has been preserved with original furnishings, offering a glimpse into middle-class life in the early 20th century. The surrounding garden was designed by Cecil Baldwin himself and remains an important part of the experience for visitors today.

Markree House and its garden are significant for their reflection of Tasmania’s architectural history and domestic life in the interwar period. The property is one of the few remaining examples of an intact Arts and Crafts house in the region, and its careful preservation offers a unique insight into the lives of Hobart’s middle-class families in the 1920s and 1930s.

What to see at Markree House Museum and Garden

Visitors to Markree House Museum and Garden can expect to step back in time to the early 20th century, with much of the house’s original furnishings and layout preserved. The house’s design features include fine timberwork, leadlight windows and decorative plaster ceilings, all typical of the Arts and Crafts style.

The House

The museum’s interior provides a window into middle-class domestic life during the 1920s and 1930s. Rooms such as the dining room, living room and bedrooms are furnished with original or period-appropriate items, including furniture, textiles and household objects. A collection of personal items belonging to the Baldwin family, such as books, photographs and letters, are also on display, helping to bring the family’s story to life.

One of the highlights is the library, which remains stocked with books from the Baldwin family’s collection. The attention to detail in the house’s interior design, such as the intricate woodwork and stained glass, offers visitors a chance to appreciate the craftsmanship of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Garden

The garden, designed by Cecil Baldwin, is a peaceful space filled with a variety of plants, trees, and flowers. It reflects the influence of the English-style gardens popular during the period, with a combination of formal and informal planting styles. Visitors can wander through the garden paths and enjoy the different sections, which include a lawn, flowerbeds, and a vegetable garden. The garden is a significant part of the Markree experience and provides a relaxing environment to explore after visiting the house.

The house and garden together offer a complete picture of life in early 20th-century Tasmania, from the design of the house to the leisure activities enjoyed by its residents.

Visiting Markree House Museum and Garden

Markree House Museum and Garden is on Hampden Road in Battery Point on the fringe of Hobart’s city centre. You can walk here from the city centre in between five and 20 minutes.

It is only open for self-guided visits on Saturdays between October and April, although you can visit on a guided tour between Tuesday and Sunday. Admission costs $10.

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145 Hampden Road, Hobart TAS 7000
Website www.tmag.tas.gov.au
Admission $10, concession $8, children $4
Open Jan–Apr & Oct–Dec Sat 10am–4.30pm