Tassie's Best Garage
When Gabby and Greg Ross spent $80,000 converting their garage into a cottage for Tasmanian tourists they thought the bookings would trickle in slowly to start with, but since opening just before Christmas A Cottage in Richmond has almost been fully booked.
Most guests are booking for three nights at the $222-a-night home hotel but Gabby says their first booking was for eight nights.
They moved to Richmond from Hamilton Island in Queensland eight years ago having never even visited Tasmania before.
Gabby runs the hotel business, while Greg runs his helicopter business.
They champion Coal River Valley food and wine through both what they offer for their guests but also in what they recommend they try during their stay.
The mini bar is stocked with Richmond Chocolate Shop treats, honey from the Coolgardie apiary down the road, bottles of Clemens Hills Wine and Tasmanian gin.
Gabby surprises guests with freshly baked bread and home made granola for breakfast and also local eggs and bacon they can cook in their own fully-kitted out kitchen.
Even the products in the bathroom are hand made in Richmond by Anna Thomason who runs the Salamanca Skin Care Company.
“I want our guests to try these beautiful products here at the cottage and then go and seek them out themselves and take them back to the mainland to enjoy,” Gabby says.
Because she has experience working in a shop that sells beds, you can be assured the split king with an electric blanket is super comfortable. But a lot of thought has also gone into ensuring the whole cottage is cosy.
There’s a corner fire box to keep guests toasty in the cooler months, soft throws over the deep-set armchairs and a heat lamp in the bathroom.
One guest, who was on her first child-free break with her husband in 21 years - described the cottage as calm and gorgeous and told Gabby she didn’t want to leave. She wrote in the guest book: “on our return from day trips it was like coming home to your favourite slippers and PJs to enjoy a comfy night in.”
The cottage is fully private with it’s own access and the French doors open out to a private courtyard and overlooks a hill and paddocks with horses. Guests have been telling Gabby how much they’ve enjoyed seeing and hearing all the birds and are encouraged to forage from the vegetable garden and fruit trees.
Gabby says it’s not just about providing a relaxing haven for her guests, but equally a good holiday so she happily recommends things to keep them busy. “I think it’s all about welcoming guests into your home and offering them an experience based on your local knowledge,” she says.
Within the next six months A Cottage in Richmond will be offering private tours of Coal River Valley food and wine businesses.
“Sometimes when people are on holidays, they don’t want to think about planning where they are going to go and what they are going to see,” Gabby says. “So soon when our guests book with us, we will be able to provide a really tailored holiday experience. We can pick them up from the airport and take them to special places that we have loved exploring and organise wine and food tours including helicopter flights. There’s so much to do and see in the Coal River Valley. It’s just so diverse.”
@acottageinrichmond
