Conara Disappearing Traditional Cache

This small roadside cache will take you on a sightseeing tour of Conara, Whether you approach this from the South or North the road will take you back to the Highway in a semi circle and will lead you past the 'Disappearing House' 

Standing at the turnoff to St Marys at Conara, the so-called “Disappearing House” earned its name by the illusion of its sinking into the ground as travellers approached along the main road from Hobart to Launceston, due to the peculiar conformation of the landscape.  On the old road the house would “vanish” as you descended one hill, the other seemed to rise up in front of you and the house would “disappear” behind it.  Then as you ascended the next small hill, it would miraculously reappear.

Conara was originally known as Humphreys Waterholes, after a policeman who ran a station there. The land occupied by the Disappearing House was originally owned by R. H. Willis, and is likely to be the origin of the property’s early name; Willis’ Corner. This area was also known as Epping Banks and simply “The Corners”. The location became known as “The Corners” because it was at the intersection of the main highway between Hobart Town and Launceston and the road to St Marys (in those days called Break O’Day Road). In more recent times the road course has been changed. The main road now bypasses Conara and the house is approximately 200 metres from the highway. The Conara Junction Inn has been known by many names over the years – originally The Corners Inn, it has also been called Cleveland Inn, Epping House, Smithvale, Breffni – and the most common name to many Tasmanians – The Disappearing House!