00:00Welcome to Elfin House, one of Launceston's most exceptional private homes. Set quietly
00:12here in Newstead, it's a place where Tasmanian history and modern design come together in a
00:17way that feels timeless. Built in the late 1800s by Reverend William Dry from the same family that
00:26produced Tasmania's first-born premiere, this was once the grand residence on the original Elfin
00:31farm, an estate that stretched the entire eastern side of Elfin Road. In a city that's the third
00:36oldest in Australia, that makes Elfin House one of the earliest and most complete examples of
00:40gothic revival architecture anywhere in the country. The moment you step inside, there's a
00:46stillness to the property. Marble mantelpieces, pressed tin ceilings, the servant stair, all
00:51carefully preserved, layered with patina, but complemented by contemporary alterations.
00:56The rooms have that graceful vertical proportion you only find in 19th century design.
01:04Two glass pavilions now extend the original home, a dining wing opening to the reflective pond and
01:09gardens, and a study pavilion tucked quietly to the rear. They bring light and openness into the
01:15gothic form, creating a balance between history and modern life. Elfin House is a home that moves
01:21without effort with the seasons. There's a large heated in-ground pool, a gothic-inspired double
01:26garage with loft storage, an outdoor kitchen and entertaining courtyard, and established gardens
01:32that are elegant yet easy to maintain. Everything has been considered from the symmetry of the landscape
01:37to the way sunlight filters through the arched windows. Upstairs, the bedrooms are quiet and refined,
01:43with vultured ceilings and soft views through the trees. The bathrooms echo the original gothic shapes,
01:48but with a calm, contemporary minimalism.
01:55Elfin House isn't just a beautiful property, it's a piece of Tasmanian heritage made ready for life
02:00today. A rare place where history, architecture and family can all meet. I'm Thomas from Thomason Associates,
02:07I'd love to show you through this extraordinary home in person.
