About Owner:
We’re travelling overseas from 26 April to 29 July 2025 (return date may change by a couple of days) and are looking for house/pet-sitters for our home above the welcoming village of St Marys, East Coast Tasmania.
THE PROPERTY
Originally a dairy farm, 47 amazing acres, half-cleared, half old growth forest for you to enjoy. Cottage has been completely renovated, open-plan with large kitchen with both wood and modern stoves, dining (with air con/heat pump), sitting and TV (with wood heater) areas and renovated bathroom. Large deck overlooks dam which is frequently visited by platypus. Sleeping is in a renovated shed a few metres from the main house, double-glazed, en suite, wood heater and little deck even closer to platypus dam. Alternatively, sleep in second bedroom of the cottage. NBN Satellite internet in the cottage, unlimited data. Telstra mobile coverage. Two large rainwater tanks, three irrigation water tanks, 8kw of solar (still attached to the grid). Huge fruit and veggie area and poly tunnels, stone and pome fruit trees, currant and berry bushes, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes, etc. Please eat whatever is available! Loads of books, lots of birdlife, lovely outlook.
THE VILLAGE
7 mins drive away. 2 IGAs, PO, garage with petrol pump, chemist, doctor and small hospital, library, cafes, pub, Chinese restaurant, masseuse, acupuncture, op shop, gym, sports clubs, community bus weekly to choir at Falmouth, monthly market. Thriving and friendly community.
THE AREA
Scamander with surfing and dog friendly beaches 25 mins away, seaside town of St Helens with cinema and mountain bike track a further 20 mins. Lovely Bicheno 40 mins in the other direction. Launceston 1hr 40 mins away. Walk nearby South Sister or St Patricks Head or venture into Freycinet NP.
THE ANIMALS
Two rescue dogs, Spike 40kg and Xander 36kg. Young, enthusiastic, strong, loving and loveable. Need a daily walk, about 4kms/1 hour, either along the rural road (a work-out for you and them) or on the property (sniffy and exciting for them, beautiful for you). Love to play tuggy and ball chase-y and adore strokes and fuss. Can be left in large fenced yard when you need to shop or have a day away. Outdoors during the day, sleep in the laundry.
6 chooks, 1 rooster – Araucana, French Marans and cross-breeds. Need feeding and watering daily. Occasional sprinkle of straw under perches in chook house. Dark brown, beige and blue eggs.
1 duck, 1 drake. Beautiful black, iridescent green Cayugas. Need watering and feeding daily. Occasional emptying and filling of their bath by hose. Big white eggs.
OTHER STUFF
Any veggies in poly tunnels will need regular watering (drip irrigation). Other veggie beds and fruit trees as necessary depending on weather. Mainly drip irrigation. Water may need to be pumped from creek to tanks. Mowing of half-football-field-sized yard and in veggie patch would be really helpful, though may not be needed at this time of year. Replenishing of wood store for stoves would be appreciated. We have sourdough starters and water kefir that will need to be maintained/used. We’ll show how all this is done as well as how to use both the Honda self-propelled and ride-on mowers. We’ll provide the numbers of useful friends should you need assistance with anything. We should be available by WhatsApp phone or email.
We suggest this sit is most suitable for a couple without pets. Ideally, we’d like to meet you in person or at least by video WhatsApp call. If you’d like to visit overnight or for a couple of days to see what our home and the boys are like, we’d love to meet you. In any case, we’d recommend arriving at least a day early for sit so we can show you around.
