Old School House: a 2 bedroom apartment with cosy fire designed by one of Australia's leading architects for a memorable holiday experience. A building with an intriguing history - Monty of El Alamein/WW2 was educated in this place. Free wifi and parking. Walking distance to Salamanca. See our other listings under Old Bishops Quarters. Splendid luxury at the bottom of the world! A special hide-away with the feel of a luxury, boutique hotel, without the hotel and much more space. Stay in a spacious, beautifully appointed, self-contained two bedroom apartment in Monty's Old School House, part of one of Australia’s most historic houses, formerly home to each Bishop of Tasmania for over 160 years until 2003. Our family home was built in the 1830s and is set in about an acre of gardens on one of Hobart’s most attractive tree-lined streets on the edge of Battery Point - just at the end of our street. And unlike Battery Point/other central areas, we have free parking outside! Availability should always be up to date as it is sync'd with our website booking system (have a look at 3D tour there). For prices, click on booking with your dates and up comes the quote. Free wifi, linen/towels and parking; accommodation only. Kitchenette is not equipped for cooking but there is a BBQ. The School Rooms apartment is a spacious 75 square metre retreat with a rich history. It is fully wheel chair accessible and incorporates: - the original school house includes sitting area with gas fire adjacent to the master bedroom with king-sized bed (or two single beds on request) under a vaulted ceiling in a studio-style arrangement - via a glazed link, this leads to a separate sunny kitchenette/dining space - a large bath/shower room with a wet room style shower which is wheel chair accessible - a cosy 'dormitory bedroom' with upper and lower bunk beds (top bunk folds away) - opening on to a North East facing courtyard - ground floor, no steps - cot and high chair on request Access is through an attractive courtyard from a dedicated off-street car park which is right outside your door. Our guests have already decided that this is a great place to stay in Hobart. The apartment has been fitted out to the highest possible standard. The bathroom features a deep, natural stone bath, a wide shower and underfloor heating. The apartment has plenty of character. Heat is solar powered from a large scale solar array in the old orchard, supplemented by gas. There is air conditioning in the lounge/master bedroom and a gas powered log. And there's a hair dryer! Free wifi, cinema TV, iPad and Sonos hifi system with Pandora unlimited music on demand. The custom made mini-kitchenette is equipped with new appliances - 6 setting Fisher & Paykel single drawer dishwasher, bar fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffee plunger (no cooking facilities). Not a lot has changed in the main house over the years, other than a major restoration project funded by the National Trust in the 1990s and now our efforts - especially heating! The house was designed in stages by two of Australia's most renowned architects in the 19th century, Henry Hunter and George Fagg. There are many stories about past owners, residents and guests including Field Marshall Montgomery of WW2 fame, Lady Gowrie, infamous Herman Rockefeller (worth a web search!), every Anglican Bishop of Tasmania from mid-19th century to early 21st century, endless Governor-Generals, the first Attorney General of Tasmania, a good selection of Archbishops of Canterbury and York, John Wordsworth (not the poet but the Bishop of Salisbury and grand nephew of the poet) and so on. Bookings starting on a Thursday evening will usually only work for us if it includes the weekend as Friday is a very popular start date for weekend bookings. Between November and April, weekend bookings will be charged at the rate for 4 guests. No parties. Early check-in is often possible by prior arrangement. Come and enjoy 21st century Hobart mixed with the 19th century! Here is an extract about the School House from 'A Field Marshall in the Family' (Brian Montgomery): "Our Unusual Parents: Tasmania Days 1890s Meanwhile at Hobart, with her usual organising ability, Mother had arranged for tutors to come from England and take over the whole job of teaching the children, who were rapidly growing up. The arrival of these tutors gave her more freedom to devote her attention to the many and varied activities of a Colonial bishop's wife. Fortunately Bishopscourt, their home in Hobart, was a large rambling building with a big garden, well suited to her purpose. She had an additional room built, outside the house, which served as a school where not only her own children were taught, but also those of certain close friends in or near Hobart. One of the boys who came was Andrew Holden, the son of Doctor Holden who was father's closest friend in Tasmania. Much later, Andrew married my elder sister Una. The boys of the school had the charge of the schoolroom, taking their turn weekly to keep it clean, light the fire, chop the wood and generally maintain it. Here too they got their own evening meal, and for this purpose the boy in charge for the week was given half a crown to spend on 'extras' over and above what the cook provided. One boy would spend the whole sum on cake or biscuits, whilst another bought tinned salmon and persuaded the cook to make it up into fish cakes. The future Field-Marshal, on one occasion when his turn came round, discovered, with due regard for economy, some cheap eggs. He announced, to the great amusement of his parents but the dismay of his fellows, that he was providing `reduced eggs' ! Although all the children had to submit to Mother's routine and sense of order it should not be thought they were unhappy or discontented in Tasmania. On the contrary they loved it all, especially the constant outdoor life, the picnics, riding, fishing and the like."