Franklin House

(Rated G incidently)

Franklin House, in Franklin Village, on the edge of Launceston. Heading south, there's about a handful of houses before the city boundary.

This was the first property obtained by the National Trust in Tasmania, when it was it was rescued about 1960.




Built in the 1830s, it's a typical Georgian "gentleman's cottage", with a central hallway that the room open off. Upstairs is a little different. Two bedrooms open off the landing, as you'd expect, but the front two rooms joins together to make one large living room, that can be divided with a wooden screen that folds back.

The other interesting room, is on the far left there. It was a school for boys, where all the proper family sent their sons.



At the rear of the house, there's an open courtyard with a wing on each side.



North side (straight into the sun, yay)



with the stable on the end





The stable window is interesting. It looks like you turn the knob and the sticks hold up the louvres.



The other wing



With the kitchen up against the house.



The gardens are quite lovely, in season.

SV May Queen

One set of photos I forgot to post from the Wooden Boat Festival. (By 'forgot' I mean I didn't get a good photo of the whole ship on the day, so I had to look through old ones to find one and I hadn't got around to it, and I also wanted to incorporate some of the information from the brochure, but I have no idea where it is and the website it helpfully uninformative, so you can make up your own words.)

Just in you were starting think all the sailing ships were modern replicas, here's the SV May Queen, a trading ketch built in 1867 and used to transport timber and stuff. "Australia's oldest sail trading vessel still afloat and on of only four wooden vessels from that era still afloat in the world."



She sat in Watermans Dock for long time, being restored. Despite the poor light, this shot gives a good overview.



At the Wooden Boat Festival (ooh, I have walked past this ship so many times and now it's open! Quick, where's a gold coin). We come in over the stern and down into the black hole.




Down in the hold. From the bow, looking along the starboard side. That light on the left is annoying.



Despite the light, it's dark down here.



With the flash on. There's a display panel on the right there.









Looking along the deck, towards the stern. The main mast is on the right. Both masts have fore & aft sails.