This estate is another one built with the help of convict labour. It was built for Thomas Reiby, son of Mary Reiby of Sydney (pictured on the $20 note). The Reiby family made money in shipping and transporting goods in the early days of the colony expanding from NSW to Van Diemen's Land.
Originally 4 rooms, it was extended a number of times. Now owned by the Tasmanian Government and leased to private hands it is a house museum run and cared for by volunteers.
The sewing and music room.
The library.
All the rooms are furnished and decorated in the period of the house. All furnishings were collected when setting up the house museum. The Reibys were in the habit of selling everything whenever they went abroad leaving it empty. So only a few items actually belonged to the family.
There are a couple of portraits of the family and a set of silver flatware owned by Mary Reiby and a sweet 3 piece ladies suite consisting of an elegant couch and 2 chairs.
Mrs Thomas Reiby.
The magnificent gardens are the work of a dedicated group who hold an open garden every year. The walled garden is divided by box hedges and filled with dahlias, roses and old fashioned blooms.
The greenhouse is believed to be the oldest in Australia and was bought from England as flat pack by Thomas and his wife. The brick base was built to take the glass walls and roof. It is awash with the brilliant colours of begonias and hanging baskets. The second room contains ferns which are rotated through the house.
Across the yard is a small and intimate chapel. Thomas Reiby and his brother James were ordained ministers and contributed to the building of a number of churches in the area. This chapel was for the worship of the family and people on the estate.
It only has 8 pews but has a lovely pump organ as does the nearby church in Hadspen which is the burial place of Thomas and his wife. Mrs Thomas Reiby presented the organ to the church. It took around 100 years for the church to be completed (1961) and then it was deconsecrated and sold to help pay reparations for victims of church abuse in Tasmania.
Next to the chapel is one of the carriage houses and a beautiful stable.
The Reiby family loved fine horses and kept quite a number of racehorses. One - Malua - actually won the Melbourne Cup although after he was sold on.
The property also features a blacksmith shop, tack room and various cottages for staff.
During its heyday Entally was around 4000 acres and the Reiby family also owned land near Longford. Today, very much reduced, it has land under grape vines.
Huge harvester made of wood and iron and drawn by draught horses.
In the garden this is one of several Red Cedars shading the lawns.
My very last blog page - I get the Spirit of Tasmania home tonight. I have visited so many areas I hadn't been before and revisted old favourites. I love exploring the history of people and places and hearing their stories.
Goodbye Tasmania - I hope to see you again one day!
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