Our Story

From a weathered heritage cottage to a place to slow down

Myrtle Creek Farm began with a simple idea: to bring an early-1900s Tasmanian cottage back to life and create a place where people could slow down, reconnect with nature and experience a different side of Tasmania.

We're Liz and James, two mainlanders who fell in love with Tasmania and eventually decided to make it home.

When we first discovered Myrtle Creek Farm in Collinsvale, the heritage cottage was weathered by time, but full of potential. It needed significant restoration, and the surrounding property — with its historic huts, outbuildings, creeks and established vegetation — offered an opportunity to create something meaningful.

Beneath the layers of age and wear was a beautiful piece of Tasmanian history, set within a landscape of forest, waterways and mountains. We could imagine what it might become: a private heritage farm stay that honoured its past while welcoming a new generation of guests.

For years and a dream to build

What followed was several years of planning, designing, restoring, building and learning.

We wanted to preserve the character of the original weatherboard cottage while making it a comfortable, contemporary place to stay. Working with local architects Biotope Architecture and engaging with Heritage Tasmania, we explored how heritage conservation and modern design could sit comfortably alongside one another.

The result is a home where old and new are intentionally distinct. Original weatherboards and heritage details sit alongside natural materials, reclaimed timber, considered interiors and contemporary comforts.

Every decision was an opportunity to find a balance between respecting the history of the cottage and creating a welcoming place for guests to experience Tasmania.

Designing for a slower kind of stay

From the beginning, we wanted Myrtle Creek Farm to be more than somewhere to sleep between sightseeing.

We wanted it to be a place where you could wake to birdsong, make breakfast in the kitchen, wander down to the creek, spend an afternoon reading and finish the day in the sauna or outdoor bath.

The three-bedroom cottage has been designed around this idea of slow living. Comfortable interiors, a fully equipped kitchen, an indoor fire and thoughtfully considered outdoor spaces make it easy to settle in and stay awhile.

Outside, the gardens, two creeks and surrounding native landscape offer their own reasons to slow down. Whether you're exploring nearby walking tracks or spending the day at the farm, there's room to find your own rhythm.

Building with what we had

One of the most rewarding parts of restoring Myrtle Creek Farm has been finding ways to give existing materials a new life.

Timber from the property has been milled and reused in the cottage, furniture, internal linings, fencing, tables and posts. Reclaimed timber from a dilapidated shed in nearby Collinsvale has been incorporated into the bathroom and kitchen, while original sleepers from the house have been repurposed into furniture.

We've also retained small traces of the cottage's history, including old newspaper and coins discovered during the restoration.

These details reflect our belief that restoring a heritage property is not simply about making it look new. It's about preserving its character, making thoughtful use of existing resources and allowing its history to remain part of the finished space.

A landscape to care for

Our connection to Tasmania extends beyond the buildings to the landscape around them.

Two creeks run through the property, and the surrounding forest and gardens provide opportunities to experience the region's distinctive native wildlife. Guests may spot pademelons, wallabies and native birds, with platypus and Tasmanian devils possible but never guaranteed.

We've also been gradually restoring the landscape through native planting and the replacement of unsuitable vegetation. In 2023, 14 radiata pines were removed following a Heritage Tasmania exemption and replaced with 14 blackwoods.

Caring for the property is an ongoing process. We're learning how to balance the needs of a working accommodation business with the importance of protecting waterways, supporting native habitat and living respectfully alongside wildlife.

Tasmania will always be part of our story

Moving to Tasmania changed the direction of our lives.

The landscape, the seasons, the wildlife and the slower pace all became part of what we wanted to create at Myrtle Creek Farm. We wanted to share the feeling of being surrounded by nature while remaining close enough to Hobart to enjoy its food, culture and attractions.

We're approximately 25 minutes from Hobart CBD and around 12 minutes from MONA, making the farm a peaceful base for exploring southern Tasmania.

We hope guests come for the heritage cottage, the sauna, the outdoor bath or the proximity to Hobart — but leave remembering the sound of the creek, a wallaby in the garden, a cold morning walk or an evening around the fire.

And we're not finished yet

Myrtle Creek Farm continues to evolve.

Alongside caring for the landscape and improving the property, we're exploring opportunities to restore the historic huts and potentially bring some of them into future accommodation offerings during 2026 and 2027. We're also considering new nature-based wellness experiences and ways to deepen our connection with the surrounding environment.

These projects will take time, care and thoughtful planning. Our intention is to preserve the heritage and character of the farm while finding new ways for people to experience this special corner of Tasmania.

For now, we're enjoying sharing what we've created so far — and continuing to learn from the place we now call home.