John Kinder Archer, son of Carrick's first Inn's builder, began building a large mansion on Bishopbourne Road in 1847.
It was built as a substantial, brick quoin and rubble walled, two-story structure with a triple-gabled roof.
It was designed to have large rooms (16 ft (4.9 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m)) and a domed driveway through the house's centre.
When only four rooms were completed, the ship "The City of Launceston" sank off Adelaide with much of the supplies to complete the building.
After this setback, exacerbated by the lack of insurance, Archer abandoned the building.
Thomas Monds bought it in 1867 and used it for storing grain.
Archer's building work created only a shell that became known as Archer's Folly.
The folly was recorded by The Mercury in 1883 as both unfinished and ugly.
By 1946 the Folly remained uncompleted and was used as a barn.
In the late 20th century it was owned by Mirek Marik, local copper-work artist, who partly restored it.
A fire broke out on 5 April 1978 and the conflagration left just a roofless shell.
Marik Metal Art later built a replacement studio and workshop adjacent to the now grand ruin.
John Kinder Archer, son of Carrick's first Inn's builder, began building a large mansion on Bishopbourne Road in 1847. It was built as a substantial, brick quoin and rubble walled, two-story structure with a triple-gabled roof. It was designed to have large rooms (16 ft (4.9 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m)) and a domed driveway through the house's centre. When only four rooms were completed, the ship "The City of Launceston" sank off Adelaide with much of the supplies to complete the building. After this setback, exacerbated by the lack of insurance, Archer abandoned the building. Thomas Monds bought it in 1867 and used it for storing grain. Archer's building work created only a shell that became known as Archer's Folly. The folly was recorded by The Mercury in 1883 as both unfinished and ugly. By 1946 the Folly remained uncompleted and was used as a barn. In the late 20th century it was owned by Mirek Marik, local copper-work artist, who partly restored it. A fire broke out on 5 April 1978 and the conflagration left just a roofless shell. Marik Metal Art later built a replacement studio and workshop adjacent to the now grand ruin.
Carrick, Tasmania