Move over, Hobart. The port town of Stanley in Tasmania’s north west knows how to do boutique hotels, too – just look at the Ship Inn Stanley…
Oh, Tassie, with your breathtaking landscape and cute-as-a-button boutique hotels, you never fail to impress. The latest offering in the scenic state’s boutique boom comes in the form of a seven-suite guesthouse that recently opened in the historic port town of Stanley in North West Tasmania.
Ship Inn Stanley is tucked at the base of a sheer-sided bluff (The Nut), which sits at the apex of a peninsula and looks out to a panorama of windswept, rugged and remote beauty. The building has undergone an extensive transformation over the last 12 months, with local owners Kerry and Alastair Houston having worked tirelessly to uncover the historic secrets of the property. It was built in 1849 and is one of many remaining buildings in the quaint seaside township that is rich in Australia’s settlement history.
Each of the Ship Inn Stanley’s seven generous suites has its own story and distinct personality reflecting the history of the township and surrounds, while contemporary fittings have been carefully selected to merge effortlessly with the interior’s vintage art and beautiful original timber and stonework. A local stonemason is also in the process of transforming the garden, painstakingly creating a series of spectacular stone walls from rock found naturally onsite.
Ship Inn Stanley also has a boutique yoga studio and gym, and while the property doesn’t have a restaurant (just seven suites, and all that), guests of the hotel will get a complimentary continental breakfast served in their suite, and there are plenty of dining options a short walk away on Stanley’s shopping strip.
Ship Inn Stanley comes hot on the heels of Hobart boutique hotel Moss, which opened in June, with The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel and lifestyle hotel Hyatt Centric opening in the capital in 2020. A five-star, 172-room hotel at MONA called Motown is also scheduled for 2024. It’s officially Tassie’s time in the sun.