A 200-year-old farm at Longford, continuously run by the same family for seven generations, has started a new dining experience to help maintain the historic property, the ABC reported on Sunday.
Brickendon Estate, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was established in 1824 by William Archer, and his descendants still operate the 465-hectare mixed-farming enterprise today. The estate is now offering paddock-to-plate Sunday roast lunches, featuring lamb from a flock that has been part of the farm for two centuries, according to the ABC story.
The Archer family told the ABC that the new venture is a way to manage the significant costs of maintaining the numerous convict-built structures on the property. Brickendon, along with the neighbouring Woolmers Estate, is considered one of the nation’s most significant convict sites, with more than 20 heritage buildings, including a chapel, blacksmith’s shop, and barns, all constructed by convict labour.
According to the Discover Tasmania website, the estate has been hosting a series of “Winter Sunday Roasts” and “Long Table Farmhouse Feasts” in partnership with Heartlands Tasmania. These events offer visitors a chance to dine at the historic property, which has traditionally been open for accommodation, garden tours, and exploring the historic farm village.
The farm’s own website states that while it has produced wool and meat for 200 years, the current focus is on meat production from its 2,000 composite-breed ewes.
The original report by ABC News provides more detail on the family’s decision to open for dining.