About Tubby & Padman

The name Tubby and Padman's was the name the locals used for what was a 2 storey department store built in Swansea circa 1840. During some of it's time as a store it was managed and owned by George Padman and Mrs Tubby. The property became a single storey in the late 1800's when storm damage destroyed the first floor. It is well documented that the retrieved timbers were used in the Oyster Bay guest house. On our arrival in Swansea in 2000, the property was named The Cottage Home. After some research and conversations with the older citizens. it was revealed it had been refered to as Tubby and Padman's hence a return to this name.

As history proceeds, the property has been owned both privately and for commercial ventures. One of the most well known ventures to the locals of Swansea was its time as a nursing home, 'The Swansea Cottage Nursing Home'. Many of the locals recall time spent in the Home with loved ones. The 'Swansea Cottage Nursing Home' ceased to operate in the 1980s when the May Shaw Nursing Centre was built. After its period as a nursing home, it was privately owned and now operates as self-contained bed & breakfast suites and apartments, proudly owned and operated by Greg and Sue Lodge.

Swansea offers an array of shops and galleries and museums. Fast becoming a foodies Mecca with well renown restaurants the Banc, with its friendly professional service and chef extraordinaire, The Ebb, with commanding views across the great Oyster Bay, providing cuisine using fine Tasmanian produce a must for all. Numerous places of interest in and around the town, cafés, clubs and a tavern to suit all budgets.

Swansea history

Originally known as Great Swanport, Swansea is a quiet paced town of 600 located on the northwest shore of Great Oyster Bay and is ideally placed midway - approximately 135 kms (85 miles) - from both Hobart and Launceston.

History of the Swansea Community

After Aboriginal settlement, Swansea's story begins with early explorers; among them were Tasman in 1642, Dufresne in 1772, Captain Cox 1879, Nicolas Baudin 1802 and Amasa Delano 1803. Dutch navigator Abel Tasman mapped Schouten and Maria Islands on his first voyage to Tasmania in 1642. Frenchman Nicolas Baudin's scientific expedition charted the Freycinet Peninsula in 1802 aboard the vessels Geographe and Naturaliste.

The mix of countries gives us a clue to the purpose of early settlement in this area.

Waterloo Point (Swansea) was originally established as a garrison, and settlement of the hinterland followed. A convict station was established at Rocky Hills and housed some 400 convicts.

In 1850 the military garrison (a small contingent of the 40th Regiment of Foot) was withdrawn and Swansea became a police district. It remained so until 23rd January 1860 when Glamorgan became the first rural municipality in Tasmania. There were 6 Councillors. In 1864 the seal of the Municipality was purchased. It was designed by Louisa Anne Meredith and depicted the black swan.

The original settlers of Great Swanport (which became Glamorgan) were the Meredith family and the Amos brothers, the Talbot, Buxton and Cotton families who brought their workers and their families, tools, seeds, expertise and their animals. The first farms were complete little communities - very isolated. The farm industry included: orcharding, hop growing, whaling, wool and grain production, beef cattle and sheep hides.

The community grew with the arrival of families like the Pykes, Castles, Flacks, Dodges, Gregsons, Watsons, Grahams, Grays, Pooles, Quins, Skeggs, Webbs, Rapps, Dilgers, Hunns, and Keefers who worked to make this district prosper and grow.

Small coastal sailing ships plied to and from Hobart Town with people and supplies. The opening of the Denison Canal in the early 1900s meant that ships no longer had to go by the much longer route around the Tasman Peninsula.

Food was often in short supply if crops failed or fruit didn't set. Game such as fish, kangaroo, swan, duck and rabbit helped augment the very meagre food supply. Wheat was an important crop and there were mills at Glen Gala, Gala, Riversdale and Mayfield. Granaries at Riversdale and Lisdillon supplied the community with its staple food.

Schools began in 1858 with 53 children in 2 schools in this area. By 1864 there were 152 pupils enrolled in state schools as well as children tutored at home.

Coaches provided transportation and as the rough roads gradually improved people were able to move more freely. Cars eventually replaced the coaches and boat transport.

In 1901 there were about 261 permanent residents, today there are about 600.

There are several historic buildings in the town including the Glamorgan Community Centre built in 1860 and now housing a museum of local history, and the Bark Mill - the only restored working Wattle Bark Mill in Australia. Located on the southern approach to the town, Kate's Berry Farm has an established reputation for jams, ice-cream, wine and country produce.