The Nut at Stanley – a 143m high massif thought to be an ancient volcanic plug jutting out into Bass Strait above the historic town of Stanley.

Our neighbours

An early morning visit to the port area revealed 1000 seagulls and a few other avian friends like these black headed cormorants….

…Gull chicks….

..and a juvenile Black cormorant.

The Big Rock Lobster at Hursey’s Seafood shop. “We were at the beach; Everybody had matching towels; Somebody went under a dock; And there they saw a rock; It wasn’t a rock; It was a rock lobster; Rock lobster……” B52’s

While waiting outside a cafe, my peripheral vision caught sight of this guy – the Tasmanian echidna which has more hair than the mainland version for warmth.

On the move…

…. and time for a scratch with that hind claw.

Highfield Historic Site 1830 farm at Stanley. Building commenced in 1826 by convict labour. Highfield was the home of the appointed governor of the Van Diemans Land Company.

The parlour inside…..

..but I find the cellars far more interesting.

Early map – the Nut was officially called Circular Head. The local council is still called Circular Head.

Room with a view – you can see Stanley between the land and the sky.

Original furniture that was brought from England in three pieces in the early 1830s.

There are many other buildings on the estate (that is now administered by Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania) like the stables and slaughterhouse.

The church on Highfield Estate.

Being close to Cape Grim, there were historical farm implements on display.

The classic view of The Nut from Highfield.

The remains of the Convict Barracks.

On the road to Godfreys Beach

The entrance to Highfield from Godfreys Beach.

A Tasmanian raven (aka Forest Raven) with nesting material.

Australian kestrel by the roadside foraging for dinner.

Angus at a Cape Grim Beef Farm on the peninsula at Stanley.

Sheep enjoying the lush grass.

A lot of dairying here too. There were three dairying factories we saw in the district, two at Smithton and one on the way to Wynyard.

Abalone farm at Stanley with Angus bulls in the paddock.

Formerly a 1936 tele-communications centre, Cable Station connected Tasmania to mainland Australia and the rest of the world with Tasmania’s first telephone link. 

“You’d be annoyed too if you have to live near a Nut.“

Van Diemans Land Company Store 1843 – National Trust listed but a private residence.

An old building in Stanley

The old lighthouse near Stanley port at sunset.

Stanley Post Office

Hundreds of seagulls at the Port

Seagull art splatter technique

Dock at Stanley

Main street of Stanley

Penguin viewing at dusk – Godfreys Beach Penguin Viewing Platform is illuminated with special red lighting designed not to disturb the local Little Penguins. Based on our experience from last night, these people will wait in the cold for another hour before the penguins appear.

Stanley sunset