Servants Kitchen
Built in 1847 and still serving. Devonshire Teas, light lunch options, sweets, ice-creams and drinks
The Kitchen That Fed An Estate Now Feeds You
Woolmers Estate’s 1847 Servants’ Kitchen has reopened as a cafe. Devonshire teas, light lunch options, sweets, ice-creams and drinks, served from 10:30am inside one of Northern Tasmania’s most significant heritage buildings.
For nearly two centuries, this kitchen fed an entire colonial estate. The fires were lit before dawn. The larders stocked before the household stirred. The servants who worked here never ate in the dining room, never slept in the main house, never saw the view from the front veranda. They kept Woolmers running from this building, quietly, without acknowledgement, for generations.
Now the kitchen is open again. This time, it’s set for the guests visiting the Estate.
From 10:30am to 6:00pm daily, the Servants’ Kitchen Cafe serves Devonshire teas, light lunch options, sweets, ice-creams and drinks inside the same 1847 building William Archer designed to keep an estate fed, included as part of your day at Woolmers, alongside the Unshackled experience, the grounds and the Rose Garden. The scones are house-made. The jam is house-made. None of it is complicated, and all of it is exactly right for a place like this, somewhere that has always understood what it means to feed people well.
Starting your day earlier? The grounds are free to explore each morning, no ticket required. Walk the heritage precinct and take the avenues at your own pace before the day’s guests arrive. The Rose Garden Cafe, open to everyone, all day, is serving breakfast and coffee the whole time. Then, once your General Admission ticket brings you inside from 10:30am, the Servants’ Kitchen is there to welcome you too, with Devonshire tea, a light lunch, something sweet, or an ice-cream on a warm afternoon.
Open to General Admission Guests
Designed in 1847 Still Standing
The building that houses the Servants’ Kitchen Cafe is not a heritage-inspired replica or a converted barn dressed up for tourism. It is the original. Designed in 1847 by William Archer, one of Tasmania’s most distinguished colonial architects, to complement the Italianate addition he made to the main Woolmers homestead.
When it was built, the ground floor housed a kitchen, larder, pantry, baking rooms and store room. The upper floors accommodated the female servants who kept Woolmers running, secured in attic rooms nearest the Kitchen Wing. The courtyard outside gave access to the estate cellars, impressive in scale and perpetually prone to flooding.
The building fed an entire colonial estate across two centuries. Today it does something considerably less demanding. But the bones are the same.
Woolmers Estate gratefully acknowledges the Tasmanian Government for supporting the restoration of the Servants Kitchen, helping to preserve this piece of Australia’s convict heritage for future generations.
Visiting the Servants Kitchen
For event catering, private dining or function enquiries, please see our Functions and Events page or contact us directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a General Admission ticket to eat at the café?
Yes. The Servants’ Kitchen, open 10:30am to 6:00pm, is included as part of your visit with a General Admission ticket. If you’d just like a coffee or breakfast without a ticket, the Rose Garden Cafe is open to everyone.
What are the café opening hours?
The Servants Kitchen Café is open daily from 10:30am to 6:00pm. We are closed on ANZAC Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Do I need to book a table?
No booking is required
Is the café suitable for children?
Yes. the menu has kid friendly options, and the café is family-friendly. Children are welcome to walk the grounds with breakfast guests during the complimentary morning access period.
Do you cater for dietary requirements?
Many dishes can be adapted. Please let our staff know about any allergies or dietary needs when ordering.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes. The café has an outdoor courtyard overlooking the Great Western Tiers.
Is the café accessible?
The Servants Kitchen is located within the estate and there are uneven pathways and steps to enter.
How far is the café from Launceston?
About 20 minutes by car. We’re also 20 minutes from Launceston Airport and under 5 minutes off the Heritage Highway, making it an easy stop for travellers heading south.
Is there parking?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available directly outside the Nigel Peck Centre.
Can I visit the café if I'm staying in the heritage cottages?
Absolutely. The café is a short walk from the accommodation cottages.