Community Display | Stanley TAS

Wednesday: 18 March

A Wonderful Morning in Stanley

Finding Our Spot
This morning we drove into the charming town of Stanley, not quite sure where we’d end up setting up for the day. After parking the trailer, we set off down the street on foot, keeping our eyes open for just the right spot.

A Generous Welcome
Out of nowhere, a friendly man stepped out of the old bank building and asked if we were lost or looking for something! When we explained that we were searching for a good place to display Bubsie, he didn’t hesitate — he warmly invited us to set up right there on the footpath outside his building.
What a special place it turned out to be! The building was not only his home but also a cosy overnight retreat for tourists passing through. Even more fascinating, it had once housed the National Bank of Tasmania in the years before Federation — back when there was even talk that Tasmania might become its own island nation, much like New Zealand. History at every turn!

Spreading the Word
With a wonderful location secured, we unloaded Bubsie and drove her into position. Since most of Stanley’s tourist businesses don’t open until around 11:00 am, we put the time to good use. We filled out some A3 posters letting people know we’d be there until 1:00 pm, and Glenda headed off through town — all the way up to the Nut Café and parking area — dropping posters at cafés and letting the hotel and nearby stores know we were there.
By the time she returned, Kevin was already deep in conversation with curious passers-by who had been stopping in after their breakfast or morning tea from the cafés across the road. It had already begun!

A Steady Stream of Smiles
All morning long, we enjoyed a wonderful, steady stream of visitors who were genuinely thrilled to see little Bubsie. Our generous friend from the bank building even treated us to a lovely personal tour of the building and its beautiful gardens out the back. What a treat!
It truly was a very successful and joy-filled morning — full of warm conversations and lovely connections with both local residents and tourists alike.

A Drive Through History
By 1:30 pm we had packed up, and we couldn’t resist taking Bubsie for a little cruise through town before heading off. We stopped to take some photos beside Joseph Lyons’ Cottage — the home of the only Tasmanian ever to serve as Prime Minister of Australia — a fitting end to a day steeped in history!

We left Stanley at 2:00 pm, heading back to Devonport with full hearts and wonderful memories.