Notable House-Guests

Dr William Dawson was the first tenant until he moved to India in 1852 where the new tenant became one Thomas Hewitt, a merchant who remained there 6 years (the house was yet to be named Islington).

From 1858 to 1864 the house was occupied by Sir James Milne Wilson the Brewer of nearby Cascade Brewery, and then Member of the Executive Council in 1863 and Treasurer to the Legislative Council in the Whyte-Meredith administration 1863-66. In 1868 as Mayor of Hobart, he received Prince Alfred, son of Queen Victoria on the first Royal visit to Tasmania. And he presented to the City the gold mayoral chains that are still in use today. Wilson would go on to be Premier of Tasmania (1869-1872) and during his life contributed to the foundation of the Theatre Royal, the Hobart Regatta and the Tasmanian Jockey Club.

Charles Cansdell, Barrister and Solicitor rented the house 1864-1869 and worked at offices in the Stone Buildings that still exist (Murray & Macquarie Streets). He became a member of the House of Assembly, and Attorney General in Sir Richard Dry's Ministry.

James Henry Brett Walch was tenant 1869-1876. Proprietor of J Walch & Sons the bookstore occupied a site known as Walch's corner at Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, now the Commonwealth Bank. From 1872 to 1975 Walch's published Tasmania Almanac or Redbook. In 1877 Walch moved to 'Hillcrest' at the corner of nearby Angelsea Street.

Next tenants were the Parson Sisters who bought the house in 1880 and sold for 2,200 pounds in 1882 to Alexander McDowell Ritchie, a solicitor with Dobson Mitchell and Allport of 111 Macquarie Street.

In 1899 the house was bought by the Harvey family. Harvey being from Islington in London named the house for his birthplace and went to work for George Adams of O'Brien's Hotel and then managed the headquarters of Tattersalls Club at 77 Collins Street.

From then a series of owners enjoyed Islington. 1920-1929 Norman Whistler Gregory Walker head of the junior school of Hutchins then located at Macquarie and Davey Street and attended by the Cansdell children in the 1860's.

Harold Frederick Turner and his family was resident owner from 1929 - 1959 and in 1930's added a first floor extension to the southern wing, now the Louisa Anne Meredith Room.

Peter Hamilton Tilley Stops became resident owner in 1959 and had a great influence on Islington. Stops was educated at Hutchins, possibly tutored by Norman Walker. He went on to study Law at the University of Tasmania and became a partner in his father's law firm, Clerk, Walker & Stops. He was particularly interested in the preservation of Tasmania's cultural heritage and was one of two southern representatives at the inaugural meeting of the National Trust on May 4 1960. In recognition of his contribution over the ensuing years was in 1987 awarded an Honorary Life Membership. He helped preserve the old Hutchins School Building and helped acquire and renovate Runnymeade at New Town.

He also was instrumental in salvaging the graceful wooden portico of Dr WW Giblin's residence at 142 Macquarie Street (and featured on the cover of the book 'Stones of a Century'), and erecting them to frame the heavy double front doors of Islington, still today featuring the original lion's head door handle.

In 1986, Islington was acquired by Hayden Oxley and converted from a private residence to a private hotel from where it was sold in 1992 to David Dunkley who continued its operation until its recent sale and closure for refurbishment.