Swanston Forest Estate
Imagine a rural property with over 2000 acres of Tasmanian wilderness that have never had chemicals sprayed or waters contaminated by historical or current activities. Healthy native forests, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and heath, interlaced with headwater streams and titles that extend to the middle of the river. All with the benefits of kilometres of well-formed logging roads, two quarries, cosy, powered maintenance hut, and substantial water reserves with windmill and storage tanks. Private, peaceful and secluded with distant hill top views of Oyster Bay and Freycinet National Park; this property has just come to market for the first time in approx 15 years.
The 4 km property boundary to the north is to the middle of the Little Swanport River; the southern boundary is the Swanston Road track. Access with normal road vehicle is possible from the west; 4WD access from the east along the first convict made road between the east coast and midlands.
Swanston Forest Estate has a total area of 2060 acres (833.73 ha) in 4 titles. Two titles (1663.5 acres or 673.2 ha) comprise the Swanston Private Nature Reserve/Private Forest Reserve (conservation covenants in 2001 under the Private Forest Reserves Programme for the 7 old growth forest communities of high conservation value; Private Nature Reserve status was declared in 2005). The other two titles with an area of 396.7 acres (160.53 ha) are zoned as rural/farming land.
The covenants provide for an area of 1.5 ha on each title for purposes of building or occupation without any restrictions except those applied by Council. One of the sites is already established on the southern title in an area previously used as a log staging area. A maintenance hut has been moved to the site. It is fitted with solar panels, wiring for generator, wood-fired oven with hot water jacket, kitchen sink, storage cupboards, TV with DVD player, CB radio and hardwood veranda. The other 1.5 ha site on the northern title is still floating but there are good sites accessible via a well-formed track on the plateau known locally as the Racecourse.
Within the rural-zoned land there are two small red gravel quarries used for road construction but also suitable for rammed earth construction. Fencing between the titles exists as a result of previous grazing activities. The property is fully fenced along Swanston Road and has substantial boom-gates at either end of the main internal road to maintain privacy and security.
Water is abundant on the property. A bore was drilled alongside one of quarries in 2004 by Tas Drilling to 18.5 m with a recorded flow averaging 800 gallons per hour (just over 3000 litres per hour). The aquifer has no pollution sources and is considered to be extensive. A restored Alston windmill was erected in 2005 and pumps water into two 20000 litre tanks. There are 10 historic small dams across the property previously established and used as sheep watering points. There are several ephemeral headwater streams on the property that flow into the Little Swanport River.
While the prime objective of the covenants is to protect the rare forests, there remains plenty of scope for social, economic and environmental activities within the nature reserve such as seed collecting, bird watching, mountain biking, photography, eco-tourism and spiritual or health retreat. The potential for the farming land includes organic cropping or animal husbandry, trout fishing, deer hunting, specialty timber harvesting, and firewood harvesting.
The property can be examined by reference to map (Royalty Map (5631) 1:25000 series, Lot 0702, 0703, 0704 and 0627) or by appointment.
To make an appointment to view either this property or the Little Swanport Private Nature Reserve or to obtain or discuss further details do not hesitate to contact. Act now.
