Roscraig, 21 Mortimer Avenue Mount Stuart, Tasmania

• See also Federation Queen Anne style

Historic Tasmanian home with department store fame

By Jennifer Duke – Friday, 20 December 2013 at http://www.propertyobserver.com.au

Noted as one of Hobart’s ‘true’ mansions, 1905-built Roscraig was constructed for Mr Brownell, the owner of Brownell Brothers Ltd, the first department store in Hobart.

• Listing: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-mount+stuart-115397639
• Gallery of photographs

General Features: Property Type:House Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Building Size: 330.00 m² (36 squares) approx Land Size: 2246 m² (approx)	Other Features Close to Schools,Close to Shops, Close to Transport, Fireplace(s), Garden, Formal Lounge	Floorplan	Interactive Tour
Indoor Features: Toilets: 2 Air Conditioning	Outdoor Features Carport Spaces: 2 Open Car Spaces: 4	Floorplan	Virtual Tour

• The property is on approvimately 2,246 square metres on the high side of the road, and has views over New Town, North Hobart, the Hobart Docks and the Eastern Shore.
  
• The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, 21 Mortimer Avenue, Mount Stuart, includes an operational original servants bell and six car spaces.
  
  
• The pictures show beautiful stained glass windows and period-features, such as bay windows and fireplaces.
  

Iconic mansion

• “Steeped in proud history this is one of Hobart’s true mansions. ‘Roscraig’ was was built in 1905 for Mr Brownell who was the owner of Brownell Brothers Ltd, a large department store in Hobart. Designed and constructed as a mark of status everything about this residence symbolises prosperity.

• “Imposingly nestled on approx. 2,246sqm of land on the high side of the road this property offers a fabulous panorama with a lovely vista over New Town, North Hobart and the Eastern Shore as well as a lovely snapshot of the Hobart docks area.
  

• “Luxuriously proportioned with stunning, original features throughout there are numerous options for accommodation and living areas. With even the servants bells still operational this is an opportunity to secure a magnificent home in an exquisite residential enclave within a stone’s throw from the wonderful North Hobart cappuccino strip.”

• It’s currently listed asking for $1.2 million. RP Data records show that previously, it was bought in 2005 for $650,000, having been purchased for $205,500 in 1987.
  
• Brownwells originally began as David Moses’ London Mart, which was a drapery and general store builty in 1836. It then became Brownwell Brothers in 1888, according to The Companion to Tasmanian History, before becoming a public company in 1902.
• It was remodelled in the 1950s with American techniques, becoming Tasmania’s largest department store, before being taken over by Myer in 1959.