Helen Taylor is the matriarch of Tanilba Bay House, a supporter of the arts in Australia and a very good farmer...

Helen Taylor rules the historic Tanilba Bay House in Caswell Avenue Tanilba Bay New South Wales Australia. Helen has a homely range of dogs, doves and domesticated fowl.

Tanilba House was built for Lieutenant Caswell, a naval officer. He and his family emigrated in 1828. Caswell established farm sites at Seaham (23 km north) and Salt Ash and opted to build his homestead on the 50 acres he received at Tanilba. Utilising convict labour he started with a slab hut in 1829, expanding to a cottage in 1831, and laid the foundations of Tanilba House in 1837, built of quartz porphyry stone which was quarried nearby. The mortar came from lime produced by burning oysters. Vineyards, gardens and a dairy were established. The Calwell’s lived at Tanilba for fifteen years. The family house was sold in 1886 and stood derelict until 1897.

Rather than being a museum piece Tanilba House, for all of its elegance, has a very comfortable, casual, rustic and lived-in feel to it. For a small entry fee Helen will give you a brief tour of the house, a freshly brewed cup of coffee and, for an additional fee, a Devonshire tea. The house is open for inspections Wednesdays, weekends, and every day during school and public holidays.
 

Annual Events Helen Taylor presents at Historic Tanilba Bay House:

Australia Day at Tanilba House on January 26 with Aussie music and poetry readings.

Upside down Christmas Dinner each July.

Father’s Day Jazz Concert held in September.

Port Stephens Doll Fair is held each October.

Little Pictures Exhibition December to January 2004.


In March 1994 the Arts Council of New South Wales Australia organised through Helen Taylor at Tanilba Bay House for Ian Sandercoe to hold a weekend workshop at the Tanilba Bay Progress Hall, for musicians of all ages. The workshop focused on music and lyric composition. It turned out to be a gathering of about twenty young people with ambition to get involved with Australian music and entertainment in some form. Ben Gillies, Daniel Johns and Chris Joannou attended as part of a three piece group called Innocent Criminals.


Contact Helen Taylor at Tanilba Bay House on: tel: +612 4982 4866