Alfred Crisp’s Room

Inheriting his father’s timber business, Corinda’s builder went on to accumulate a much larger fortune. He was at various times a Magistrate, a member of the House of Assembly and, repeatedly, Mayor of Hobart. Several of his 10 children went on living here at Corinda well into the 20th century.

The bedroom named in his honour in Alfred’s old home has a magnificent view over Hobart’s river and busy waterfront, with cruise ships arriving almost daily.

Sleep Tight!
The bed in Alfred’s room is a full King size with padded linen headboard. The interior sprung mattress and quilted latex overlay were hand made for us right here in Hobart by A H Beard, a specialist bedding firm founded 120 years ago. The sheets and pillowcases are of finest quality Egyptian cotton.

Furniture
The wardrobe, just like Crisp’s principal stock in trade, is of richly figured native cedar, dating from around 1860. The chest of drawers with barley twist columns is also of Australian cedar and dates from the same period, as does the cedar chaise longue by the fireplace.

The magnificent portrait of a gypsy girl by the door is by Placido Frances y Pasquad (1832-1904), a well known Spanish salon painter whose work hangs in the Prado, Madrid, as well as in other collections.

The native blackwood lavatory, or “thunder box”, in the en suite bathroom with its antique Staffordshire Blue bowl has always been in the house. Hanging beside the bed is a framed photograph of the horse drawn fire engine Alfred maintained for the benefit of Hobart Town.