This 61-hectare property at Swanwick on Tasmania’s east coast is truly unique. Just 10 minutes from Coles Bay and Freycinet National Park, it offers rare proximity to one of Tasmania’s most celebrated landscapes. For conservation-minded buyers, the property will be sold with a conservation covenant on title, creating a meaningful opportunity to contribute to regional conservation in perpetuity.
A north-facing knoll hosts a simple, rustic shack that provides peaceful, sun-filled shelter immersed in nature, with views to Mount Paul and the surrounding tall, old-growth eucalypt forests.
The land forms part of an extensive, continuous tract of protected native vegetation on the Freycinet Peninsula. It directly adjoins the Coles Bay Conservation Area and connects with Freycinet National Park. Moulting Lagoon is also nearby. Despite its sense of seclusion, the property is easily accessed via Coles Bay Road.
A network of walking trails winds through the property, offering the opportunity to explore its remarkable diversity of 11 distinct vegetation communities.
Coles Bay provides convenient access to services, while Bicheno and St Helens are about an hour’s scenic drive away. Launceston is just under two hours away, with Hobart around two and a half hours’ drive, offering a rare balance of privacy and accessibility.
CONSERVATION VALUES
The property lies at the base of Mount Paul and is relatively low-lying, at around 30 metres above sea level, with minimal elevation change. Soils are varied, though predominantly sandy, gravelly, and sandstone-based.
Runoff from surrounding slopes feeds multiple ephemeral creeks that cross the property and meet in the central area, where they form wetlands and soaks. Historic damming along the creek line has created a permanent water source on the property.
The varied slopes and soils support a mosaic of 11 vegetation communities. Black peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina) forest dominates the property, with black gum (Eucalyptus ovata) forest in lower-lying areas, interspersed with shrublands, wet heathlands and wetlands.
These habitats provide known Tasmanian devil denning sites, high-quality swift parrot foraging habitat, likely threatened flora, old growth elements and threatened vegetation communities listed at both State and Commonwealth levels. Collectively, these features contribute to the ecological integrity of the Freycinet Peninsula.
The property also plays a role in landscape-scale conservation. Its southern and eastern boundaries adjoin the 2,300-hectare Coles Bay Conservation Area, which then connects to Freycinet National Park (14,000 hectares) to the east. To the north, Mount Paul sits within a large area of privately managed land. To the west, smaller private parcels of land ultimately connect to the TLC Reserve ‘Big Punchbowl’ (320 hectares) located just 5.5 km away. Big Punchbowl directly connects to Moulting Lagoon (RAMSAR wetlands), providing important connection across the hills, lower slopes and wetlands.
Several conservation covenants exist on private land within 5 km, including another historical revolving fund property and Bush Heritage Australia’s Friendly Beaches reserve (120 hectares), which protects important freshwater and coastal ecosystems.
These surrounding private and public parcels also support dense native vegetation, under-represented vegetation communities (such as freshwater wetlands), old-growth forests, threatened species, and extensive wildlife habitat.
PROTECTING THE CONSERVATION VALUES
To provide permanent protection for the conservation values on the property, a conservation covenant will be registered on the land title before finalising the property sale. An area will be excluded from the covenant, allowing for future use and development without restrictions from the covenant.
Subject to approval from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the exclusion zone will cover about two hectares in the central part of the property, where the existing shack and infrastructure are located. A vehicle track provides access and the knoll offers views over surrounding forests and wetlands.
Outside the exclusion area, the covenant allows for essential management activities such as track maintenance, weed management and for appropriate recreational activities that do not damage the natural values.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
The property is:
- 10 km from Coles Bay
- 20 km from Bicheno
- 51 km from Swansea
- about 2 hours from Launceston
- about 2.5 hours to Hobart.
Coles Bay has a local IGA, pharmacy and fuel, along with cafes and restaurants, while Bicheno and Swansea provide additional essential services.
Access:
The property has vehicle access from Coles Bay Road and offers close to 3 km of walking tracks.
Infrastructure:
The existing infrastructure is modest and includes:
- a rudimentary shack (~50 m2) with a single open room and a small kitchen, clad externally with corrugated iron.
- an external toilet and shower
- rainwater tank
- no grid-connected services (solar is a viable option; power lines run along nearby roads).
Additional infrastructure includes:
- a demountable building (two joined units, 8 m x 5.5 m)
- a caravan (8 m x 2 m)
- an undercover BBQ area (2 m x 3 m)
- a carport (6 m x 6 m)
- a chicken shed and small garden shed with concrete floor.
Activities close by:
- Freycinet National Park- Day walks, boating, fishing, mountain biking, snorkelling, camping, running and beach activities
- Property: Bird watching, plant identification and walking tracks
- Access to walking tracks from property and Moulting Lagoon a short drive away
- Coles Bay, Bicheno nearby, provide access to local food, restaurants and cafes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tasmanian Land Conservancy acknowledges the support provided by the Forest Conservation Fund, administered by the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Photos by Eddie Saffarik