STAYS MANAGEMENT
Tasmania has shaped my family for six generations. Since 1842 we have lived and worked here, and this place continues to ground everything we do. Harrison Stays grew from that history and from the idea that where you stay should deepen your sense of the place you have come to.
The places people stay become part of their memory of Tasmania. They influence how a visit feels long after it is over. At Harrison Stays, we work with owners to create places that sit comfortably here and give guests a genuine experience of Tasmania.
Harrison Stays reflects a long-term commitment to Tasmania and to those who choose to visit and invest here. It allows us to continue our property journey in a new direction while contributing positively to how the state is experienced. We would be pleased to partner with you as we build this next chapter together.
Tom Harrison Director
THE HISTORY
1870
Charles James Weedon commenced business as an auctioneer, sharebroker and general merchant trading as C.J. Weedon and Co. Within a few years this business became the largest auctioneer business in Launceston as extensive properties passed through his hands. The early history of Launceston and the surrounding country was largely represented in these transactions. Charles was also the director of the Bank of Tasmania and member of the Legislative Council and in 1852 when Launceston was proclaimed a municipality was elected one of the original seven Aldermen.
In 1870 C. J. Weedon was joined in the business by his son Hardwicke Weedon. Apart from a successful career within C.J. Weedon, Hardwicke was a member of many company boards which included the Launceston Bank for Savings and the Launceston Gas Company. He was also a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
1900
In 1900 C.J. Weedon’s grandson, Percival A. Harrison joined the firm, continuing the family tradition within the industry. Percy was a prominent Tasmanian business identity not only from his tenure with C.J. Weedon but at board level of many publicly listed companies which included the Mount Bischoff Mining Company. Percy was also Chairman of the Launceston Stock Exchange.
1933
In 1933, Percival’s son Charles A Harrison, known as Tom, a great grandson of C. J. Weedon joined the firm. Tom’s career was interrupted by WWII where he served in the Middle East in the battle of El Alamein. Upon his return to Launceston, Tom served as president of the state’s Real Estate Institute and was a board member of the Cornwall Coal Mining company which is still operating today.
1984
Tom Harrison’s son Robert M Harrison, a great great grandson of C. J. Weedon left the Weedon business, and formed another real estate firm Harrison Humphreys with Gordon Humphreys. To this day, Robert is a well known real estate identity and was a board member of many Tasmanian and Australian property related institutions highlighted by his time as President of the Northern branch of the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania.
2021 ~ Harrison Humphreys was rebranded as Harrison Agents with Robert’s son and 6th generation real estate principal Thomas A Harrison (also known as Tom) now at the helm. The organisation’s Hobart office was opened later that year in Salamanca Square, Battery Point with the brand servicing both the North and South of the state.
1842
THE BLUEPRINT
INVESTIGATE
Great stays start with understanding. We explore each property’s design, style, location and potential to perform. This process defines where the property sits in the market, what can be improved, and how to position it for success.
COLLABORATE
We work with owners to identify the property’s strengths and challenges. Together we complete a detailed audit of presentation, pricing and operations. This establishes a clear picture and provides the insight needed to build a plan that delivers results.
CURATE
No two properties should be marketed the same way. We build a tailored strategy that integrates creativity, technology and structure. As part of this, we create a clear property brand that defines how the home should look, feel and be positioned so it enters the market with distinction and purpose.
ELEVATE
We elevate with intent. From presentation and photography to digital media and campaign design, we bring the property brand to life. Through strong storytelling and high quality content, we turn listings into properties people remember and talk about, driving demand and stronger bookings.
OPERATE
This is where consistency lives. Our operational systems manage cleaning, maintenance, communication and reporting with precision. A real-time view across performance and day-today operations helps safeguard the asset, elevate the guest experience, increase repeat bookings and strengthen longterm financial outcomes.
CREATING DEMAND
Exceptional performance starts with clear positioning. At Harrison Stays, every home is treated as a brand with its own identity and audience, combining generations of Tasmanian property experience with contemporary marketing, digital capability and design-led thinking.
We focus on how your property should feel, with lighting, photography and video produced carefully so the home appears warm, elevated and compelling from the first moment it is seen. With that identity in place, we use a smart mix of channels to maximise reach. Social media, targeted campaigns, our existing network and major booking platforms work together to place your property in front of the right guests.
This coordinated approach builds visibility, momentum and performance, helping your property stand out and succeed in a competitive market.
THE GUEST JOURNEY
Guests value speed, convenience and clear communication, and we make sure every part of their journey feels easy from the very first interaction.
Most guests search on mobile, expect simple booking and want accurate information upfront, so we ensure your property presents beautifully across devices and remains effortless to reserve at every stage.
Once booked, guests move through a smooth, well-managed process. Enquiries are answered promptly, screening and verification help maintain quality, and pricing and fees are transparent. Arrival details and digital guidebooks are sent automatically, so guests feel informed, comfortable and prepared before they arrive.
During their stay, centralised support manages communication while local oversight provides on-the-ground assistance when needed. The result is a stay that feels organised, welcoming and professionally supported, leading to stronger reviews, repeat bookings and better outcomes for owners.
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Guests remember how a place makes them feel, and that feeling shapes reviews, repeat visits and long-term performance. Our role is to collaborate with owners to help owners create stays that feel memorable, thoughtful and distinctly Tasmanian.
This is not about major renovations or big spending. It is about creativity. We work closely with owners to introduce simple ideas that lift the stay in meaningful ways, using small, intentional touches that make a property feel welcoming and personal without requiring large investment.
These elements create connection. When a stay feels considered rather than incidental, feedback improves, guests are more likely to return, and overall performance strengthens.
Harrison Stays focuses on experience design that is authentic, practical and guest-centred, paired with strong marketing to turn a property into the kind of stay people talk about, share and come back to.
THE OWNER EXPERIENCE
For owners, everything is designed to deliver clarity, confidence and stronger returns, while making the entire process feel simple and well supported. Rates respond to live market demand, listings are positioned across major booking channels, and corporate and relocation partners help secure longer, higher-quality stays that smooth seasonality and improve income consistency. Management is proactive and hands-on, with licensed real estate oversight ensuring your property is compliant, cared for and professionally managed at every step.
Financial reporting is straightforward. Owners receive clear statements, automated reports and portal access with real-time performance. Flexibility is built in, allowing owners to block personal dates without disrupting the overall strategy for their property.
The result is a management experience that minimises stress, maximises profitability and leaves you feeling organised, informed and genuinely looked after from start to finish.
TECHNOLOGY AND PARTNERSHIPS
Technology sits at the centre of our service, from booking through to checkout. Our systems manage communication, access, maintenance and finances quickly and accurately, while owners have access to a dedicated portal that provides real-time visibility over bookings, income and performance. Contractors receive clear, timely job updates, and guests are supported throughout their stay with a dedicated guest portal and digital guidebooks, creating a seamless experience for everyone involved.
This capability is strengthened through our partnership with MadeComfy, Australia’s leading short-stay platform and part of the global PRISM Hospitality Group. Their technology supports smart pricing, broad distribution and a strong guest services platform, helping lift performance and maximise returns across every property we manage.
A TASMANIAN STORY
Tasmania has a character that people recognise immediately. An independent spirit underpins a culture of originality and enduring quality, without chasing trends or attention.
The properties we represent are part of a broader responsibility to showcase Tasmania to the world. Every campaign, every photograph and every piece of creative work contributes to how this island is understood beyond its shores.
For more than six generations, the Harrison family has lived and worked in Tasmania. That continuity brings perspective and accountability. We do not approach property as a commodity, but as something that carries weight, context and long-term consequence.
Harrison Agents and Harrison Stays have grown from those foundations to become the leading property business in our region, competing successfully with national and international franchises while remaining distinctly Tasmanian in outlook and values.
This work demands care, judgement and creativity. Representing Tasmania well is not optional. It is a responsibility we take seriously and one we bring to every property entrusted to us.
Through our association with Brand Tasmania, and through the values we live and breathe, we are a ‘Proud Partner of Tasmanian.’
harrisonstays.com.au