About The Lodge
The Lodge on Elizabeth is elegant heritage accommodation, located just a short stroll to the Hobart CBD
Experience one of Australia's oldest Georgian mansions built in 1829.
For a period of almost 200 years, many notable families have resided here. An outline of its rich history follows (to the best of our knowledge):
Originally called Melbourne Lodge, The Lodge on Elizabeth was built by John George Stracey who was the colony's first auctioneer. He was married to Elizabeth Stracey, who arrived in Hobart in March 1830 on a boat called Nancy along with two grown daughters and a son of 18 years. They went on to host Grand Balls in the ballroom and had 22 servants.
It became a private school for boys in 1831. The Warwick Street wing was added in 1835 to help expand the schools accommodation. R W Giblin was the teacher.
Soon after this George Salier purchased the property and made more modifications to house his large family including 14 children. By 1850 George owned a drapery store with his brother James called The Gold Mine Drapery (corner of Liverpool and Elizabeth St - this is now the State Savings Bank). George was a large wool exporter, bought and sold land in Hobart well into the 1880’s, and in 1850 owned the following whaling ships: Alladin, Offley, Othello, Sapphire, Victoria.
George became a Justice of the Peace in 1862, and a member of the House of Assembly for North Hobart between 1866 to 1869, and then again from 1871 to 1886. He then sat on the Legislative Council from 1886-1892. His views were humanitarian as an evangelical liberal, and the focus of his life was the Congregational church in Davey St. The name Salier became synonymous with examples of philanthropic work around Hobart. George died in 1892 on Elizabeth St from a heart attack at 78 years of age. During this time the property was known as the Melbourne Lodge.
George’s first wife Anne Georgiana (nee Bush) died in 1845 and on 5th March 1846 he married Harriet Mary Wills, who remained in the house until 1901. Convicts assigned to George Salier included Richard Green and Peter Harrison.
The 15th Tasmanian Premier the Honourable Adye Douglas MLC owned and lived in the house. He was Premier from 1884-1886 and in the Legislative Council from 1894-1904.
The Lodge vecame a private school for ladies in 1908.
It was then the Crisp family Home until 1931.
It was derelict in 1970’s. In 1992 it was restored by Nicholas Salt, Nigel Mallet and Jill Yeoland for accommodation as it stands today.
Listed by the National Trust and the National Estate, it has become part Australia's heritage protected in perpetuity.
