Your hosts, Margaret and Swinton Galbraith, born and bred in Scotland, have lived in Tasmania for over 40 years, happily anticipating an early retirement on the spectacular Tasmanian East Coast offering visitors traditional hosted B & B in a comfortable, private and peaceful heritage setting.
Abbotsford, originally named Rappsville, was settled mid-1880s by the German Rapp family, with Christian Rapp, his wife and 5 daughters joining a few other settlers in the area to develop the land and establish a thriving community.
There is unfortunately little documented history about the family who farmed this property, which included a bakery, fruit
press, orchard, stable and forge, with some of the related outbuildings still in use today.
The property was renamed Abbotsford after the name of the country house built by the well known Scottish bard, advocate and sheriff, Sir Walter Scott, whose estate stands proudly in the lush rolling hills of the Scottish Borders near Selkirk where Swinton grew up.
Wattie, a prolific novelist and passionate collector of historic relics, wrote the famous Waverley novels, which include Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.
Part of Tasmania's heritage, with a touch of Celtic spirit!
