Tarkinegrove is situated in the NW wilderness of Tasmania called The Tarkine and located on the South Arthur River Touring Route, C218 at Roger River, providing easy access to this huge area of temperate rainforest on one side as well as the rugged coastline on the other. A writer once described the Tarkine as a 'Green Cathedral'. You step inside its 'walls', walk its 'ilseways', navigate its 'rows' and you come to know you are in a sacred and special place. Guests have approximately an acre of lawn around around the cottage to relax and unwind in, making it the an ideal location for families. Pets allowed on a case by case basis due to the resident wildlife. Stroll across the top bridge to enter the 100 year old semi-botanical gardens containing American Redwoods (one reportedly the biggest in Tasmania), Blackwoods, Basswood (Lime trees), Copper Beech, Weeping Birches, Douglas Firs, Giant Pandanus, Myrtle and groves of Tree Ferns (man ferns) plus many more. All of this is accompanied by a chorus of bird song. Re-cross the spring fed creek at the lower bridge and pass by the Lime tree under the Redwood and your back at your private driveway. In the warmer weather sit around the spring fed dam to watch 'platty' the playpus fish and play at dusk. March to November you may catch a glimpse of the Freshwater Lobster 'Tayatea'. In the cooler months a miriad of fungi appear, a macro photographers dream. At Tarkinegrove you are welcome to bring your big toys, your kayaks, boats, bikes. Plenty of flat ground is available next to your cottage. Tarkinegrove is an easily accessed and perfect central base from which you can explore this preciously wild side of Tasmania.
History of Tarkinegrove
Tarkinegrove is the heart of the former 1,000 acre property known as Mill Farm.
1906,The property was purchased by Fanny Mildred (nee Greene) and John Hilton Mackay BCE; MCE a lecturer at the University of Tasmania, logger, saw miller and pastoralist. This heavily timbered property was the start of what was to become a large enterprise growing to 6 sawmills in the area plus leases on over 2,600 acres of land.
Three buildings still stand today. The original house with it’s strong arts and craft characteristics highlighted by rich blackwood linings and traditional construction including board-and-batten exterior. Much of the window glass is original drawn glass with its wavy imperfections. The gardener's cottage which follows this same construction for the exterior. The old mill office, only the battens have been removed and the boards covered with weather boards sometime in the past.
C1906-1918, Establishment of a sawmill or even sawmills, miles of tramways to move the logs over the impossible soils in winter to facilitate transport to the Edith Creek rail terminal.
c1919, Its own railway station which terminated North of the Duck River, possibly at or near his number one mill (Stanley to Irishtown to Trowutta line).
1920, Mackay resigned from the university.
c1920, The Tasmanian blackwood timber used in the wall panelling, the desks, seats and tables of the Chambers of the Senate and The House of Representatives in The Provisional Parliament House, all came from the Mackay sawmills here in Roger River.
1928, A Post Office, on the property, at Roger River West.
1930, Feb. 19 The Advocate Bernie reported "Bush fires were responsible for the destruction of another timber mill in the Circular Head district, when Professor Mackay's No. 1 mill at Roger River, on the Trowutta roadside, about half a mile out of Rogerton, was destroyed yesterday, together with about 70,000 super. feet of timber. Fires had been raging in the vicinity of the mill all day, and a party of men under Professor Mackay had been kept working hard to stem the advance of the flames. Their efforts, however, proved futile owing to the lack of water, and the mill caught fire at 5 p.m."
1935, Around this period the logging and mills was slowing down by 1940 very little was left. The introduction of the breeds Romney Marsh and Border Leicester sheep to the estate prover to be a great success. The professor retired to Sorrell.
1952, John Mackay passed away on the 5th May and the estate continued to flourish in the with son Donald setup a partnership to create a company kown as "Roger River Estates" 1956-64. By the 60's RRE was running three dairy farms along with the Border Lester Stud and growing peas for Edgells
1967, Michael (H C Mackay) took over the managment of RRE (Ewan Raymond Donald & Hugh Carmichael, Grant 105.7ha, Parish of Trowutta [Roger Rivulet], 1960 - 1984.)
This period saw the modern addition to the old house, again full of timber including blackwood and clad with Malaysian Chengal in board-and-batten encompassing the original section. Heating of the kitchen dining area and the upstairs bedrooms was via a chip heater. With this expansion began a period of Friday night meals for members of the local area at $10 per head. A feature of the main entrance was a huge stuffed polar bear in the stairwell.
1973, Donald Mackay passed away and Mill Farm was left to Hugh Carmichael.
1980's, The combination of the impact of the economic down turn and problems with an outdated veneer slicing mill in Smithton forced the family to finally sell the property.
1995, New owners, from outside the family, continued the food trend by opening tea rooms in the original section of the house and upgraded the cottage to become a B&B for the next few years.
2010, Saw the property on the market once more.
2017, The Sharp family initially rented the house.
2019, They then purchased the property and immediately rebranded it to Tarkinegove establishing a new market in tourism. They work tirelessly on improving the grounds...a known feature of the old property. Blackwood, Weeping Birchs, Basswoods, Copper Beech, Western Red Cedars, Giant Redwoods, Australian Red Cedar, Myrtles, assorted Pines, groves of Macrocarpa and Tree Fern are some of the magnificent specimens planted by the Mackays.
2019, The former gardener’s/manager's cottage, possibly built as early as 1910, upgraded in the 1950s and again 1985-1995, was in 2019 completely repainted and refurbished to welcome it’s first guests in April that year. Whilst here look for the old front gate to the cottage amongst the Macrocarpa.
From the north direct: After the 80K zone take the first exit left to Irishtown and Edith Creek continue travelling on Trowatta Road turn right at Roger River Road. We are 2.4 km along Roger River Road. At 2 km you will see a charcoal coloured house, at 2.2 a hayshed LHS, our driveway is at the letter box the cottage driveway is about 25 metres down. (GPS is not accurate) North via Smithton: if pickingup supplies there is an IGA in Emmett St. parking at rear, Woolworths Nelson St., parking at side. There are a number of eateries, bakeries, bottle shops etc.. follow Nelson St. out of town to Edith Creek and proceed as above. From the South: On the C218, 5 minutes out of the forest a sweeping right hand bend crosses Roger River the next road on the right is Bills Rd. 500 meters to the cottage driveway at the end of the grove of Macrocarpas, the letter box on the LHS is opposite the driveway to the house.
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