Sustainability at Myrtle Creek Farm
Thoughtful design, rooted in place
Sustainability at Myrtle Creek Farm is about making considered choices that respect the property's history, work with the natural environment and create a more thoughtful way to stay in Tasmania. From restoring the heritage cottage and reusing local materials to generating solar power and sourcing water from our creek, we aim to make the most of what is already here. Our approach brings together heritage conservation, resource efficiency and care for the surrounding landscape, with plenty more to learn and improve as the farm continues to evolve.
Heritage restoration and reclaimed materials
We believe the most sustainable materials can sometimes be the ones that already exist.
The restoration of Myrtle Creek Farm has involved giving old materials a new purpose wherever possible. Reclaimed timber from dilapidated huts in the local Collinsvale village has been incorporated into the cottage, including elements of the bathroom and kitchen. Original sleepers from the house have also been repurposed into furniture, allowing parts of the building's history to remain within its next chapter.
Working with Heritage Tasmania and local architects Biotope Architecture, we've sought to balance the preservation of the early-1900s cottage with contemporary design and comfort. Timber milled from the property has also been reused throughout the build, including in furniture, internal linings and fencing.
Rather than replacing everything with new materials, we've focused on restoration, reuse and thoughtful design that honours the character of the property.
Renewable restoration and reclaimed materials
Myrtle Creek Farm uses solar power and incorporates considered design choices to support more efficient energy use.
The cottage has been designed around the practicalities of Tasmania's changing seasons, with attention to warmth, comfort and the everyday needs of guests. Energy-efficient features and appliances help reduce unnecessary energy use, while EV charging supports guests travelling with electric vehicles.
We are also exploring the potential for small-scale hydropower as a future project, building on the property's relationship with its natural waterways.
For us, sustainability is an ongoing process: finding practical ways to use resources more thoughtfully while maintaining the comfort expected of a contemporary heritage farm stay.
Creek water, native planting and landscape restoration
Water and landscape are central to life at Myrtle Creek Farm.
The property's water supply comes from the creek and is treated using filtration and UV disinfection before use. This system allows us to draw on the property's natural water source while treating the water for household use.
Outside, we're gradually restoring the landscape through native planting and considered garden design. In 2023, 14 radiata pines were removed following a Heritage Tasmania exemption and replaced with 14 blackwoods. Native and Tasmanian plants are being incorporated throughout the property, with the aim of creating a landscape that feels connected to the surrounding forest and supports local wildlife.
We also choose cleaning and household products with the surrounding environment in mind, particularly around sensitive garden and creek areas.
Our goal is to care for the waterways, encourage native habitat and allow the farm to evolve in a way that respects the landscape it belongs to.
A work in progress
Sustainability at Myrtle Creek Farm is an ongoing journey. Restoring a heritage property within a natural landscape brings opportunities as well as challenges, and we're continually learning how to care for the buildings, waterways, gardens and wildlife that make this place special.
Looking ahead, we're exploring the potential for small-scale hydroelectricity, with the aim of understanding whether the property's natural water resources could contribute to its renewable energy supply. Any future project would need to carefully consider the health of the creeks, surrounding habitat and broader environmental impacts.
The restoration of the property's historic huts is another important part of our next chapter. As we explore bringing these buildings back to life, we're considering how construction, materials, access and future use can be managed in a way that respects the surrounding environment. We want to preserve their heritage character while minimising unnecessary disturbance to native vegetation and local wildlife.
Caring for the landscape also means recognising that restoration is rarely straightforward. Introduced and intrusive plant species can be difficult to manage, particularly in an established rural environment. We're continuing to work towards a more locally appropriate landscape through considered planting, the gradual replacement of unsuitable vegetation and the restoration of native habitat.
Living alongside wildlife is central to the experience of Myrtle Creek Farm. From pademelons and wallabies to the possibility of spotting platypus and Tasmanian devils, the surrounding environment is home to animals that were here long before us. We're learning how to balance guest experiences with the need to respect wildlife, protect sensitive areas and allow animals space to move through their habitat.
Ultimately, our goal is to keep developing Myrtle Creek Farm as a more sustainable heritage accommodation experience in Tasmania — one that combines thoughtful design, renewable energy, material reuse, native habitat restoration and a genuine respect for the natural world. We don't have every answer, but we believe that making considered decisions, adapting as we learn and working with the environment rather than against it is the right place to start.
