Time feels frozen inside the homestead at Woolmers Estate, where a lavishly set dining table sprawls in the middle of a room adorned with crimson wallpaper, dating back to 1858.

Yet, linger a little longer, and signs of water damage high up on the walls betray the historic scene that volunteers have worked so steadfastly to preserve.

Tasmania's Archer family occupied the historic homestead from about 1817 to 1994, and it is now recognised as one of the most well-preserved 19th century homesteads in Australia.

It tells the story of the convict assignment system, where convicts provided labour in exchange for food and clothing.

But that recognition, formalised with a 2010 UNESCO World Heritage Listing, adds layers of extra cost and regulation to maintenance of the site.

As the only priv

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