History
Tarcombe House was built around 1898 on a land grant to Thomas Reibey, a once prominent politician, Premier of Tasmania and Colonial Secretary. Thomas Reibey was born in Hadspen, just a few kilometres from Deloraine in 1821. Reibey entered the Tasmanian House of Assembly as member for Westbury in 1874 and continued to represent it for 29 years. He retired from politics in 1903 and confined his interests to country pursuits for the remainder of his long life which included horse racing. He owned famous thoroughbreds such as Malua which he bought from John Field of Calstock of Deloraine as a yearling which went on to win several cups including the Melbourne cup in 1884. A statue of Malua and history of this horse's racing career can be seen at the Deloraine visitor centre.
Tarcombe House was also once a birthing hospital for two decades from 1929 under the charge of Sister (Granny) Stone. It was the districts birthing and lying in hospital until it was moved to Arcoona on the opposite side of the Meander river.
The house was also once the home of Mr and Mrs RA Thomas. Mrs Thomas was the daughter and heir to the Harris' Department store, of which the shop front and store name still adorns the building in the main street of Deloraine which now operates as Elemental ArtSpace studio for local artists to sell their wares. Mr Thomas was the local district's forest manager, responsible for the planting of the many colourful specimen deciduous trees including heirloom fruit trees in this garden. Mr Thomas was also responsible for the many magnificent and colourful trees planted around Deloraine and along the Meander River.
The house was run as a very successful Bed and Breakfast between 2004 to 2011. After that it was used as a private residence until 2015. Tarcombe House has now been recently listed in spring of 2016 as a self contained and self catering guest house once again to be enjoyed by visitors to Deloraine.