A long family history in Stanley
A strong connection with the land and sea through the generations
Owners and operators of the Stanley Hotel, Julian and Tracey Jacobs’ ancestors have called Stanley home since the early 1800s. Their deep roots in this historic fishing village stretch back to the arrival of two pioneering ancestors – Captain John Jacobs and James Ferguson – whose stories are woven into the fabric of Stanley itself.
The Jacobs & Ferguson Legacy
The Jacobs family connection to Stanley began in 1829 when the Van Diemen’s Land Company (VDL Co.) appointed Captain John Jacobs as its master mariner. Captain Jacobs had arrived in Van Diemen’s Land as a young crewman on the Lord Liverpool in 1823, the first vessel to sail directly from England to Port Dalrymple. He went on to gain his master’s certificate in the late 1820s and served the VDL Co. until it sold its final ship in 1845.
A respected figure in the Circular Head community, Captain Jacobs was presented with a silver tea service upon his marriage in 1837, a gift from VDL Co. officers. The tea set and letter of congratulations are still proudly held by the Jacobs family today. In 1851, he purchased one of the first land blocks in Stanley for £10 and lived most of his life in the township. A legacy of his maritime work remains on early nautical maps, where Boat Harbour (west of Table Cape) is labelled “Jacobs Boat Harbour,” having served as a refuge for his vessels during storms.
His son, James Jacobs, born in 1840, played a key role in Stanley’s early agricultural and shipping industries. He managed The Bond Store on Wharf Road, coordinating goods from local producers and overseeing shipments from Stanley’s wharf. Renowned for his reliability and fairness, James was a trusted merchant during a time when the store housed produce like grain, hides, wool, and potatoes awaiting transport to Launceston and beyond.
James’ grandson, Owen Jacobs, served in WWI and returned to Stanley to manage local produce and shipping operations on the wharf – including The Bond Store – for several decades. He married Estelle Steel in 1926, and together they lived in their home, Estowen House, for 67 years. That house, still in the family today, now offers overnight accommodation.
Owen’s son, John Jacobs, furthered the family’s maritime legacy by managing the Stanley Fishermen’s Co-operative for 34 years, serving as Warden of the Circular Head Marine Board and as a local councillor. Referred to by some historians as “the quiet stewards of the Stanley wharf,” the Jacobs family have played an integral role in maintaining the maritime identity of the town for generations.
Tracey’s connection to Stanley is equally longstanding. She descends from James Ferguson, born in Scotland in 1799, who settled in Stanley by 1842 with his wife Jane as tenants of the VDL Co. A skilled cabinet maker and active businessman, James owned many properties around Stanley, including land beside The Bond Store. He built and operated the Commercial Hotel until 1857 – very likely serving a whisky or two to Captain John Jacobs himself. Today, Julian and Tracey reside in the very same building, now a private home.
James Ferguson’s descendants continued contributing to Stanley’s development. His son John ran a general store and watchmaking business, while later generations farmed and transported produce by bullock team between Forest and Stanley. Tracey’s family have maintained their presence in the region ever since.
A Living Legacy
Julian Jacobs, John’s eldest son, has lived and worked in Stanley his entire life. From opening a fish and chip shop before his 21st birthday to developing several tourism ventures, Julian has spent over 46 years in local business.
In 2001, he and his wife Tracey expanded their accommodation business with the purchase of the Stanley Hotel. Their commitment to quality, community, and tourism earned them the Tasmanian Tourism Champions award in 2015 and the 2024 Hospitality Minister’s Award for Contribution to the Industry from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, recognising their honesty, integrity, good humour and ‘can-do’ approach.
Today, Julian and Tracey’s children, Jordan and Fletcher, represent the seventh and eighth generations of Jacobs and Ferguson descendants living in Stanley. Together, the family continues a proud legacy of hard work, community service, and commitment to this unique corner of Tasmania.
Their story isn’t just a tale of family – it’s a living chapter in the ongoing history of Stanley.