The Narryna Museum is undoubtedly one of the best museums in Hobart. It is a fine Georgian style building, constructed of sandstone and brick, with a walled paved courtyard and barn, is a popular tourist attraction. The museum is situated in the middle of an ancient garden in the heart of the Battersea Point neighbourhood, the historic "heart" of Hobart.
Once upon a time, in the 1830s, sea captain Andrew Hague bought this land from the first priest of the Tasmanian colony, Robert Knopwood, and built a house here within three years. Over the next hundred years, the house was home to many of prominent Tasmanians lived in this house over the next hundred years. Interestingly, the floors of the house are made of two kinds of wood. The part where the owner lived is laid with New Zealand agathis from one of Hag's ships. And the servants' quarters are lined with Tasmanian pine, which cost cheaper.
In 1955, Narryna was turned into Australia's first folk museum, which today houses a unique collection of 19th-century Australian objects of great national significance. It contains pieces of furniture, china, silver, drawings and artwork. Sadly, the very furnishings of Andrew Haig's house has not survived, but the furniture in the museum is from the same time period and characterises the lives of Tasmanians in the mid-19th century. An interesting exhibit in the museum is a small tea table made of rosewood. Such tables were made for storing and sorting especially valuable types of tea, which in the 19th century was the drink of the chosen few. Most of the time, the tea was kept under lock and key, so that it couldn't be stolen by servants.
The barn built by Haeg today hosts small exhibitions and holds some of the exhibits. Of particular note is the garden in the middle of which stands the museum - it was laid out by Andrew Haig and, although reduced in size, still attracts visitors.
