Ormiston House

Very very disappointed with Ormiston House. We were met by Rose who sat us down at a table to get our breakfast order even though we had had a long journey. They apparently needed to know to the nth degree what kind of toast what spread what cereal tea or coffee quiche or not etc. who knows what they fancy in the morning and it was only continental. This continued with our room. Did we want tea or coffee bags biscuits or not. We ate the biscuits but they were not replenished. We were given a list of local eating plates which Rose went through telling us which ones to avoid. The room was tired and unkempt. We had a dirty kettle that didn’t fit under the tap. Milk was somewhere else in the building. The toilet rolls were in a container you see in public toilets difficult to get the second roll down. On the second day we came back to our rooms with only the towels being changed. The beds had not been made and the rubbish bins un emptied. The mattresses and pillows smelt fusty and the rooms dusty and shabby. We hated staying here but loved Strahan. I would rate it 2 star only. We were glad to leave after two nights. Fawlty Towers was modelled on this place.

Rose was very welcoming and the room was large and very comfy. Loved the complimentary breakfast, great way to finish of a stay at this majestic old manner. Rose sat with us and gave us a run down on the main attractions around town and the best places to eat. Definitely return if in the area again.

This is a grand house that would have been sparkling in its heyday. The gardens were well maintained and Bianca and Thomas did a wonderful job making us feel welcome on arrival and at breakfast. The house is in need of some repairs, but it is comfortable and clean and was a base to see all Strahan had to offer. The breakfast was generous and yes you do have to choose on arrival but it’s not a big deal. Appreciate this lovely house for what it once was and is today and appreciate the history behind it.

We had big hopes here, on our honeymoon with another o/s friend with us, met by Bianca at door, leg ins and bed hair, set the standard, assumed nice uniforms, not to be, escorted to bar where drinks still there from night before, dusty, dirty and place smelt of varnish/paint. All 3 of us, almost like an interrogation, had breakfast orders taken, very uncomfortable actually, then showed to room, 90s renovation totally out of sync with 1880s house, very rundown and desperately needs TLC Booked 2 bedroom suite, however, neither room had doors! So on honeymoon and there r no doors, and we had to walk past our friends bed to get to toilet! No privacy at all, we did get some champagne tho, room was Jessie room. Next morning had breakfast served, very tasty and lots of it, BUT don't need to be served by Thomas in shorts, daggy old t shirt, bum crack on display, doesn't fit with the setting. Asked if we needed our towels changed, we said no, that is apparently code for "we don't want our room serviced" got back that afternoon to room in disarray, nothing washed, beds unmade, towels draped over bath, no coffee, milk etc, went out to complain, got it sorted, reported banging and crashing in walls, when I finally got one of them to answer was told "it's probably possums" and was dismissed. Again all staff scruffy, dishevelled hair, shorts and leg ins, highly unprofessional But more to come, go to toilet at 5.40am to find no toilet paper, anywhere, unit locked so couldn't get into it, went to public toilet in hall, you guessed it, no toilet paper either! Called Thomas, clearly not happy, came in and then the crescendo, screaming match in hallway as I dared to say this was perhaps because they didn't make up the room,glaring angrily at me, he informed me this was my fault due to not wanting my towels changed which means I didn't want our rooms serviced, asked him how the hell that works, then snapped and told him he had no idea on service and slammed the door, absolutely disgusting. As Blanca explained when we checked in, the owner lives in Victoria and they run it for him, I suggest he comes back and sorts this place, and them, out - they have clearly had the run on their own too long and think they are doing a great job, they most certainly are not. And the sort of people that are there are cashed up tourists, being greeted by ****s, rudeness, and sub standard accomodation is not good

Unfortunately for me this was not a 4* property..the picture of the the front of house is nothing like you see. This place could be amazing.. didnt feel clean..very Dusty.. the breakfast was not bad but I probably would not recommend to stay here if you are expecting 4*

We were greeted by a locked door with a sign saying don’t let the wasps in When another guest let us in we eventually found the numbers to call to get into our room - both on answer phone When we did get in our room was ghastly - bath in the corner of the room with a fabric screen around half of it and a toilet in what is essentially a cupboard Do not ask for the Christina room if booking here We have met staff here since our arrival and one man in particular has been quite surly and unhelpful

This property has a lot of potential but it has been sadly neglected. The garden is in serious need of work. The lighting in the passage and bedroom was poor. The furniture was in need of polish. The whole place was dusty and in need of a spring clean. The curtains in our room needed mending. The bed canopy was dusty and I don’t think the vacuum has been put under the bed in months. There are serious OH&S issues with power cords stretching along floors. On top of this, the service was not what we would expect in a heritage B&B. The cover on the bed was simply pulled up with the sheets left askew. The dirty cups were not replaced until after we made a point of it and nor were the tea and biscuit supplies replenished. There is a bar in the guest lounge but no one was there to serve drinks. In this class of B&B one should expect touches such as homemade jams, cereals, and excellent breads. There was none of this. One should expect interesting and interested conversation with the hosts. Thomas and Bianca spoke at breakfast but largely in a perfunctory manner. For the rest of our three days, they ignored us - they didn’t even see us out on our last day. One should expect the hosts to be well dressed - they were not. All in all a very disappointing experience and certainly not worth the money. I would not recommend this.

Based on the area, this place can be fantastic, yes its an old federation home, but the nostalgia makes the stay pleasant. The rooms were warm (one you put on the heating) and the bed we had comfortable. As you read my review, staffing in the area is tuff at the moment. Don't right this place off, we liked it, just wished we could have loved it. Some small things need to happen to make it Very Good, my feedback to their staff Meet and greet - on a cold day turn on the air con before guests arrive to warm the room. Local knowledge help - Be a bit positive about dinner options (not "I don't eat local'" - we don't have an option) Be honest so we know what to expect. Check in - Have people come through the front door, into the bar area, not through the side door. Have to warm with the lights on and hand us the breakfast order form, that way we can see what is on offer to decide, rather than do it like an inquisition. Dress - lose the t'shirt and baggy shorts that hang down past you bum and show your underwear, especially at breakfast. Breakfast - start it at 0630, as both main attractions leave at 8.30, people want to eat get ready and head to the wharf or train stn. Luckily we didn't need to race out. Help - put travellers at ease, overheard discussion with other guests about the late breakfast start time, and them making the 8.30 ferry, and answer "Other people make it" Cold Toast - 8 slices of toast at a time, stacked on a plate, while we were still eating out cereal and fruit. Perhaps ask before bringing it out. Felt like you were dumping everything we ordered as quick as you could so you could move on (there where only 6 other people in the room)