Brickendon has a number of interesting options for your group tours. As a World Heritage Site we can offer our guests a unique Tasmanian experience. We are very happy to work with you to make sure your group has a wonderful time. A personally guided tour by either Richard or Louise Archer is often the highlight of a visit to Brickendon as guests can chat with the Archers who are very happy to offer first hand knowledge of Brickendon and its history.
Choose from any of the following options or combine them — you let us know what you want. If you have a special interest tour e.g. dendrology, agriculture, convict descendents — we are very happy to tailor a tour to suit your needs and interests.
Convict Farm Village & Heritage Gardens Tour
Guided tour 2 hours, $31 per person, minimum 10 people
Brickendon’s Farm Village offers visitors a rare insight into the early colonial and convict history of Australia. Being one of the earliest farming areas in Van Diemen’s Land, Brickendon was developed by William Archer as a mixed enterprise with sheep, cattle and cropping. Explore the convict buildings of the Farm Village which include the amazing timber barns and granaries, the delightful poultry house and chapel and even the original homestead cottage.
Our Convict Interpretation Centre enlightens visitors to the development of the Assignment system where convicts were provided to free settlers to develop the farms to feed the growing colony and they may even find the name of their ancestors on the list of convicts that worked at Brickendon!
From early spring through to late autumn the gardens at Brickendon offer visitors an amazing array of plants. From some of the oldest trees in Australia to the most scented old fashioned roses, the shrubberies, walks and planted beds are a delight. The gardens have been tended by members of the Archer family since 1830 and currently Louise and Richard Archer (sixth generation) are tending the gardens.
Heritage Gardens Tour — for garden lovers!
Guided tour 1.5 hours, $16 per person, minimum 10 people
These magnificent gardens come to life with a personally guided tour by Angela Archer. Angela has been maintaining the gardens for more than 30 years and has developed many new features. “Garden Rooms” reveal hidden plantings of vibernums, hostas, grasses and hellebores while the whole garden is beautifully protected by the extraordinary collection of English and exotic trees planted during the 1830s. Oaks, elms, cedars, pines and the amazing Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya) are all features of the outer gardens and lead to the original orchard where the delightful hazelnut walk dating from the 1850s can be enjoyed as can the fabulous black mulberries from the original trees.
Convict Farm Village and Working Farm Displays Tour
Guided tour 2.5 hours, POA, minimum 10 people (visit designed to suit your group)
The tour of the convict buildings of the Farm Village comes to life with the working displays. Damper baking in the original cookhouse where the convict workers enjoyed their meals, shearing in the shearing shed — still in use from the 1830s — and a working sheep dog display showing the relationship between a farmer and his dog. Visitors can then enjoy the freshly baked damper served with traditional golden syrup or fresh butter and jam, with a relaxing tea or coffee.
Other group options (minimum 10 people)
- Self guided tour of Brickendon’s Farm Village and Heritage Gardens $17.50 per person
- Self guided tour of Brickendon’s Farm Village $12 per person
- Self guided tour of Brickendon’s Heritage Gardens $8 per person
Please visit our Attractions page for opening hours and further details.
Prices valid to .