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Two World Heritage Sites Longford

  • Woolmers Estate. Image Credit: Darren Wright Photos

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Two World Heritage Sites Longford

Just outside Longford, two properties sit side by side, telling one of the most complete stories of colonial Australia.

Woolmers Estate and Brickendon Estate are jointly listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and together they offer a rare look at how the Assignment System shaped early Tasmania.

A combined ticket brings both estates together into one experience. It gives access to each property, the 2.8km Convict Farm Walk between them, and the immersive UNSHACKLED exhibition at Woolmers. It’s valid for two days, so there’s no rush.

Walk the Ground Between Two Estates

Linking the two properties is the Convict Farm Walk, a gentle 2.8km track following the Macquarie River. It’s not just a nice stretch of countryside — it traces the same route assigned convicts once walked between the estates.

Take your time with it. It’s an easy way to understand how closely these places were connected.

Brickendon Estate: A Working Farm with Deep Roots

Brickendon Estate was settled in 1824 and is still farmed today by seventh-generation Archer family descendants.

Across the 465-hectare property, more than 20 convict-built buildings remain, including the 1820s Farm Village with its Gothic chapel, woolshed, smokehouse and timber pillar granary. Around the Georgian homestead, four hectares of heritage gardens soften the edges of what is still very much a working farm.

If you’re there in the morning, the daily animal feeding at 10:15am is worth catching.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am

Brickendon Estate

Woolmers Estate: Gardens, Buildings and Stories

Established in 1817, Woolmers Estate offers a slightly different feel, with 18 original heritage buildings set across 13 hectares of grounds.

The National Rose Garden is a highlight, especially through the warmer months, while the estate itself carries a quiet sense of scale and history.

For those wanting a bit more context, the Woolmers Experience guided buggy tour runs at 10:30am and can be added to your visit.

Opening hours: Daily from 8am

Woolmers Estate
Woolmers

UNSHACKLED 

UNSHACKLED, housed in the Nigel Peck Centre at Woolmers, is an award‑winning immersive digital exhibition that reframes Australia’s convict past through the lens of the Assignment System. Through projections, interactive displays and individual stories drawn from the 160,000 transported convicts, it explores how convicts worked, resisted and helped shape modern Australia; access is included in general or combined admission, with exhibition‑only tickets also available.

Details:

  • Open 17 January to 31 December 2026
  • 8am to 4pm daily
  • Included with general or combined admission
  • $15 exhibition-only entry available
  • Located within the Nigel Peck Centre
Unshackled Exhibition
UNSHACKLED

Plan Your Visit

A combined ticket (from $35) gives access to both estates, the walk between them, and the UNSHACKLED exhibition, with two days to explore it all. 

Mother’s Day lunch in the Rose Garden Café

If you’re planning ahead, Rose Garden Café at Woolmers is hosting a Mother’s Day lunch in one of the more memorable settings along the Heritage Highway.

A three-course set menu is served with a complimentary Mumosa on arrival, surrounded by the estate grounds.

Bookings are essential – Book now

Rose Garden Cafe
Woolmers Mother's Day Lunch

Stay the night in convict‑built cottages

For visitors who want to linger, Woolmers Estate offers self‑contained, heritage cottages where you can quite literally sleep where convicts once lived and wake up surrounded by World Heritage. Several one‑ to three‑bedroom cottages feature wood‑burning heaters, full kitchens and access to the estate after hours, creating a quiet, atmospheric base for exploring Longford, Brickendon and the wider Heritage Highway, with special off‑season packages making an overnight stay even more tempting.

Woolmers Estate Accommodation
Woolmers
Woolmers
Woolmers
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Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.

Article Details:

Article Created: 1 May 2026
Last Update: 1 May 2026
Author: Darren Wright
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