By Arabella Peterson 09.04.2025

"How We Turned a 19th Century Post Office Into a Dreamy Airbnb"

What was once a historic post office is now one of Australia’s most sought after stays.

There’s something magical about being within the walls of a storied building. It’s a quiet joy to imagine what happened there, who once lingered in its rooms, and how it has transformed through time.

This sense of history echoes through The Posthouse, a lovingly restored heritage property in Tasmania’s Carlton River region. Once a regional post office, the building was saved from ruin in 1994 and bought by Hannah Chapman and Stuart Cooper in 2022, before being given a second life as a dreamy lakeside cottage for holiday rental.

According to Hannah, “the cottage served as the Carlton River Post Office from 1841 to 1949 and was likely a central hub for the community during the early colonial era. I've always loved this area – my parents had a shack in the nearby seaside town of Dodges Ferry. When I saw the listing, I was captivated; it looked like the most romantic little shack imaginable to me.”

For some, buying an almost-centuries-old shack in need of serious TLC would be a much less enticing road to venture down than a low-maintenance fixer-upper. But for Hannah, committing to a restoration project rather than building or buying a new property was a labour of love. “Honestly, we were not that strategic about it,” she says. “I think the building might have chosen us. The first time we walked through we were smitten. It was so quirky, but so charming at the same time.”

A rare gem just forty minutes from Hobart, she knew she had something special on her hands. Hannah’s vision evolved and changed as the project unfolded, as she says, “Sometimes, as it happened in fact.” The direction that emerged, with help from brilliant creative minds: stylist Sarah Andrews, and heritage architect Genevieve Lilley, was to allow traditional details to shine among luxe, contemporary finishings. “We tried to strip back and celebrate the special features that represent the original era and set it apart from new buildings. We’ve then juxtaposed that with quite elevated elements,” she says.

As one would expect, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Despite its heritage listing, the building had elements that didn’t comply with current planning or building regulations. This meant Hannah had to navigate the delicate process of bringing a protected structure up to code without compromising its historical integrity. She points to the initial phase having particularly tricky moments where plans had to pivot. “The most challenging phase was the first two years of planning. During that phase we had the awkward situation of a heritage-listed cottage that was illegal. It was a real tightrope we were walking,” she says. “Heritage was fantastic from the outset but it was a complex scenario and the complexities were mostly out of our hands.”

But among the bureaucratic and structural headwinds, there was more joy than frustration in the process. From leveling up with a Heritage Tasmania grant to assembling a dream team of craftspeople, there were small wins, achievements, and moments of awe to hold onto as the project came together. “The highlight was bringing together so many skilled individuals with a passion for heritage, conservation and restoration. It was incredible to learn from them all and to see them work together,” says Hannah. “Seeing the glow up has been a true joy.” Another unexpected perk of bringing a historic cottage back to life? Uncovering hidden features and historical artifacts. At The Posthouse, the landscaper found a penny from 1826 as well as antique crockery buried in the soil as they turned it over. If you ask her now what she wishes she’s known when she started the restoration, Hannah says, “I wish I knew that it would all work out. To trust my heart and follow it.”

What stands now is a timeless retreat. Exposed concrete and a stone fireplace give the home a rustic feel, while elevated design touches lend a sense of quiet luxury. In the bedroom, the walls are finished with a deep blue ombre, paired with buttery-soft Bed Threads Heavy Linen Bed Cover in Lagoon and a brass, standalone bathtub which overlooks the lake.

In the dining area, upholstered Victorian furniture with timber rafters and floorboards serve as the perfect backdrop for a table set for slow, candlelit dinners, complete with a Bed Threads Linen Placemats.

The kitchen, however, is the room that holds a special place in Hannah’s heart. With limewashed walls softening the polished brass splashbacks and countertops, she describes it as, “warm and cosy, the lighting is soft and the original elements really sing. I think the space tells a story of resilience and evolution.”

After years of dreaming and refining, Hannah’s goal is simply to facilitate restorative experiences for guests of The Posthouse. “We want our guests to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Watch the river go by, and the skies change. Enjoy the daily migration of the swans. Take a long soak in the deep bath. Gaze at the stars, maybe from bed.”

Photography by Ishita Moghe. Follow The Post house on Instagram and find it on Airbnb.