Last modified April 16, 2024

Historic Franklin House in Youngtown | The Examiner | Launceston, TAS

## Franklin House (National Trust Tasmania): what it is, where it is, why it matters

Franklin House is a preserved 19th-century Georgian-era house museum in Youngtown (Launceston area), Tasmania, operated by the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania). Trust

Quick facts (from your dataset + official listings)
– Place name: Franklin House – National Trust Tasmania Trust
– Location: Youngtown, in the Launceston area, northern Tasmania Trust
– Address (published by National Trust / Discover Tasmania): 413–419 Hobart Road, Youngtown TAS 7249 Trust
– Coordinates: -41.4897462, 147.1691632 (as provided)
– Phone: (03) 6344 7824 Trust
– Type: Historic house museum / heritage property (often listed with museum/gardens/café facilities). Trust

## The historical timeline (verifiable highlights)

Franklin House is closely tied to Tasmania’s colonial period—both its architecture and its later use.

– Built in 1838 for Britton Jones, described by multiple official tourism/heritage sources as a former convict and brewer/publican. Tasmania
– By 1842, the property became one of the colony’s notable private schools, associated with W. K. (William Keeler) Hawkes, and was used as a boys’ school for a period commonly cited as 1842–1866. Tasmania
– The National Trust in Tasmania was founded in 1960 in connection with preserving this house (it is frequently referenced as the Trust’s first major heritage property and was preserved and furnished when it was known as “The Hollies”). Tasmania

If you’re writing this up for readers who care about “what makes it rare,” the key factual angle is that this is not just a “nice old house”—it’s a purpose-preserved, furnished interior that’s explicitly curated to represent 19th-century life in Tasmania, rather than a stripped-down shell. Tasmania

## What you can actually see on-site (house + gardens)

### Architecture and interiors
– The façade is noted for an Ionic portico (a classical entrance with Ionic columns). Tasmania
– The interiors are furnished to reflect 19th-century life in Tasmania. Tasmania
– The National Trust highlights a preserved schoolroom connected to “Mr Hawkes’ Academy,” with period school desks/benches and original elements (including original flooring, per the Trust’s description). Trust

### Gardens and outdoor features
– The gardens include flower beds and a Victorian kitchen garden. Tasmania
– A large oak tree is described by Discover Tasmania as roughly 180 years old (treat this as an approximate heritage claim rather than a lab-verified age, but it’s still useful visitor context). Tasmania
– A family-friendly scavenger-style element called “Patrick’s Pails” is referenced, linked to Patrick Lambert, described as a 19th-century gardener at “The Hollies.” Tasmania

### Food and facilities
– Tearooms/café service is explicitly mentioned as operating during house hours (light meals/refreshments). Tasmania
– The National Trust lists typical visitor facilities such as parking, shop, gardens, group bookings, and volunteer support. Trust

## Visiting Franklin House (hours, tickets, transport) — and what may be outdated

### Opening hours: variable and sometimes seasonal
The National Trust page publishes date-specific opening/closure notes (including closures on particular days and holiday closures). For example, it lists closures around Christmas and New Year and shows day-by-day times for late December and early January. Trust

Important accuracy note: hours can change (seasonal staffing, special events, holiday schedules), so treat any static “weekly hours” you see elsewhere as potentially outdated unless it’s on the official National Trust listing. Trust

### Entry fees: there’s a clear discrepancy to flag
– The National Trust listing shows: Adult $20 | Concession $15 | Child $10 (7–16) | Family $50, with free entry for National Trust members and children 6 and under, plus Companion Card notes. Trust
– Discover Tasmania lists a lower price range: $12–$15. Tasmania

Because these conflict, the safest factual statement is: ticket prices differ across listings; verify current prices on the National Trust page before publishing hard numbers. Trust

### Getting there (public transport)
Discover Tasmania states that Metro bus routes 40 and 50 from the city stop outside the house. Tasmania

(If you include this in your post, it’s a strong accessibility detail—especially for travelers who aren’t driving in Launceston.)

## Nearby add-ons that are explicitly suggested in official listings

If a reader is building a half-day plan, both the National Trust listing and Discover Tasmania point to nearby, logistically compatible stops:
– Launceston CBD, including the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) Trust
– Josef Chromy Wines and the broader Tamar Valley Wine Route Trust
– Tamar River cruises, Evandale Village, and Clarendon are also mentioned as nearby. Trust
– St James Church (built in 1845) is noted as nearby and associated with the house. Tasmania

## Inclusivity and accuracy notes (what to avoid overstating)

– The “convict-built” framing appears in several places, but the most defensible, consistently cited point is that the house was built for Britton Jones, a former convict, in 1838. Tasmania
– Some online sources push “haunted” narratives; those are claims, not established facts. If you mention them at all, label them clearly as folklore/claims and avoid presenting them as verified history (they’re not required for a practical visitor guide).

## What I can’t safely fill in (given your “100% known facts only” rule)

– I did not add “best time to visit,” “typical visit duration,” accessibility specifics beyond what’s stated, or any claims about current tour formats (guided vs self-guided) beyond what the National Trust page explicitly indicates. Trust
– I also didn’t include internal links, because I can’t confirm which relevant pages exist on RealJourneyTravels.com from the information provided.

If you want, paste (1) your RealJourneyTravels Launceston category URL structure or (2) two existing related post URLs, and I’ll weave in genuinely valid internal links without guessing.

Key Highlights

Franklin House – National Trust Tasmania

Location

Places to Stay Near Franklin House – National Trust Tasmania

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