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Thank you for considering the Bay View Guesthouse, Stanley, as your base for exploring North West Tasmania

Our philosophy is very simple … When on holiday, you should not have to sacrifice style and comfort for affordability. Our twin passions for heritage buildings and Italian culture were the foundations upon which the vision for the Bay View Guesthouse was based… A vision to recreate the relaxed, gracious, comforting warmth of a rural Tuscan villa here in the tiny, heritage listed seaside village of Stanley, on Tasmania’s North West Coast.

The Bay View Guesthouse (formerly the Bay View Hotel) has a rich and varied history. Its fluctuating fortunes reflect the changing face of Stanley, from the bustling port of yesteryear to the tourist destination of today.

The Bay View has always been owned by people with a vision, each of whom, in their own unique way, have carried the heritage listed building forward over its 160 history.

It all began in 1849, when a young and enterprising Irishman called Michael Lyons (grandfather of one-time Prime Minister, the Hon. Sir Joseph Lyons) established a humble inn here on Alexander Terrace, in Stanley. He named it the Shamrock Inn, no doubt with the hope that the ‘luck of the Irish’ would be on his side, and that the inn would prosper. He could have had no way of knowing then that his small inn would continue to grow and evolve through into the 21st century, as one of Stanley’s most imposing and well loved buildings.

In 1854, new licensee Thomas House renamed it “The Ship Inn”, the change of name no doubt reflecting his new ideas for the inn, as a hub for Stanley’s then bustling wharf end of town.

By 1888, the inn had grown from its original humble origins to a large imposing building, with two storey verandahs overlooking the sweep of Sawyers Bay. It was renamed “The Stanley Hotel” by new owner Jane Kay, whose vision was obviously much grander than that of previous owners.

The pub again changed hands in 1903. Henry Austin licensed it as “The Bay View Hotel”, the name it bore for over a hundred years.

But after a long, steady rise came the slow decline, until in 1972 the hotel was de-licensed, gutted and abandoned.

Perhaps the single greatest vision for the old hotel was that of young couple Jon and Anne Eisman, who took on the enormous task of rebuilding. Thanks to their efforts, this precious piece of Stanley’s history was rescued from possible demolition.

Following them, new owners Tony and Heather Gray took the restoration further, their aim being to convert the hotel to residential flats.

The baton was then passed to us. Dreams and hard work were rewarded when we opened the doors of the “Bay View Guesthouse” in the New Year, 2006, to positive feedback from guests. We wish to thank all those who have supported us, and those who have stayed and shared with us.

Now the Bay View is once again able to welcome travelers. For much of its long history, it has offered hospitality to many, not only as a watering hole, but as a hub of Stanley’s social life. As you step over the stone threshold, hollowed in the center from the passing of many feet over a century and a half, the sense of history is all about you.

It is fascinating to uncover the hotel’s past…Whether it is the small concrete pads on the wooden floor, and the broken and cobwebbed light fitting above, which are all that remain to show where the billiard table once stood in the ‘Billiard Room’ – no doubt a hive of friendly rivalry and recreation in pre television days.

Or the almost derelict Sample Rooms, where in olden days the commercial travelers came to lay out their wares on display. No doubt their arrival was long anticipated by the housewives of remote Stanley in those far off days before e-bay and internet shopping.

Or the Bar Room, now gutted; the glassless and rusted conservatory; the stables, where old tack still hangs upon the wall; the Cabaret Room, the scene of many Stanley functions, now in the throes of being converted to guest rooms; the traces of fireplaces, long removed, still evident on walls and floors; the layers of paint, and lino, and carpet; a brick wall revealed when a wall was opened during renovation; a name traced in wet concrete.

All these things testify not only to the changes that the decades have brought to the Bay View, but to the human aspect. Because whilst the bricks and stones and timbers that make up the Bay View tell their story, so too do the impressions, often faint, that the people who have lived or worked here have left behind.

We are passionate about restoring the Bay View. Room by room, restoration is extensive and carefully planned. Although experienced renovators, particularly of heritage properties in Queensland, the Bay View has presented us with an enormous challenge – looking past the hard work, to see the rich potential.

We are also committed to ensuring that your stay with us will be comfortable and relaxing. To this end, our rooms have been carefully designed with comfort and practicality in mind. And as resident hosts, we are always on call to provide advice or assistance if required.

To date, we have three guest rooms. Each has its own distinct personality.

Unit 1, Romanza
As its name implies, this is the room for lovers of romance. Pretty and pink, with accents of fresh green, its large picture window overlooks Sawyers Bay and the Green Hills beyond.

Unit 3, Vorrei (Italian ‘I like’)
And our guests who have stayed here have liked it very much. Opulent and intimate, in chocolate brown and gold, with touches of bright orange and vivid red, it too boasts views over Sawyers Bay and Tatlows Beach, and the boats on the slips.

Unit 4, Quattro
Light and bright, decorated in coffee and cream, Quattro’s rustic, slate tiled kitchen opens onto its own small courtyard looking up to the towering, ever changing Nut, beneath which the Bay View is nestled, and our extensive landscaped gardens.

At $99 per night for a spacious double ensuite room, the Bay View Guesthouse is excellent value. Our rooms feature:

• Queen size beds with 300 thread count, pure white sheets; wool blankets and extra cosy, soft quilts.
• Super comfortable latex Dunlopillo pillows.
• Sparkling modern ensuite with Italian bathware and Sheridan towels.
• Little extras (that can often make a big difference) like a hairdryer, clock radio, electric blankets, heating, and TV/DVD.
• Well equipped kitchenette with fridge, microwave, toaster, jug and electric frypan.
• Tea, coffee, milk and biscotti provided.

We offer the use of a guest laundry, with dryer, to help make your holiday stay that little bit easier.

We encourage our guests to feel at home and wander in the gardens – perhaps pick a spring of parsley or rosemary to garnish a meal. Or relax with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee whilst enjoying the sweeping views from our wide, terracotta tiled front verandah. Watch the sun set over Sawyers Bay. Experience the tranquility, the timelessness, that is Stanley. The Italians have a phrase for it – dolce fa niente, or ‘sweet idleness’.

To help plan your holiday, we offer you a free guide booklet that walks you through postcard perfect Stanley. It also lists numerous places to visit, within an hour’s drive or less from Stanley - special places owned and run by special people, often a little off the beaten tourist track, and often all too easily missed.

Tasmania is a unique place. And Stanley is unique within Tasmania. We’re sure you too will fall in love with Stanley.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Bay View very soon, and helping to make your stay in Stanley a truly special experience.

BVG
Home

History of
Stanley

Complimentary Guide
to Stanley

What our Guests
Say About us

Contact
us