Why more people are seeing Swansea, Tasmania as the seachange sweet spot

Forget what you thought you knew about the weather in Tasmania. According to Swansea resident of 14 years Noel Stanley, the southern state’s east coast is a hidden gem.

“It’s a very temperate climate,” he says. “In any one year we get more hours of sunshine here than in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. We have a very long summer’s day and in winter it’s not too different from Melbourne and a similar climate to the south of England.”

Having lived in 23 different countries and worked as a pilot, Stanley says he finds Swansea to be a quiet and peaceful place.

“It’s been described as the furthest civilised temperate place on earth, away from all the troubles of the world, and it’s true!”

Now and then 

One of Tasmania’s oldest towns, Swansea started life as a farming settlement and had a stint as a military outpost before the community grew in the 1830s and the town was established.

A permanent home to just 645 people according to ABS data, the town swells in summer as one of the state’s favourite holiday stops.

Its position on the coast is exactly midway between Hobart and Launceston and has become a popular base for visitors to the spectacular Freycinet Peninsula.

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Together with Neal McDermott, Stanley operates Meredith House, a historic B&B overlooking the town, and says 95 per cent of guests are on their way to Freycinet.

As for the locals, Stanley believes that Swansea is a magnet for seachangers looking to buy on Tasmania’s east coast.

“We’re also one of the oldest demographics in Australia. It’s always been a retirement and seaside holiday town and it still is.”

Lifestyle allure

Tasmania Sotheby’s International Realty agent Jason Harbottle says apart from being a gateway to Freycinet, Swansea offers great surfing and is within easy reach of award-winning vineyards, including Spring Vale, Gala Estate, Devil’s Corner and Milton Vineyard.

For top-notch dining, try the beachfront Piermont Retreat. If you’re after a delicious Devonshire tea, Harbottle says you can’t go past Kate’s Berry Farm where the Just Desserts Café dishes up home-made jam overlooking row upon row of berries with Freycinet National Park providing a dramatic backdrop.

“Swansea is a beautiful location and so central whether you’re going north or south,” says Harbottle. “And it’s enjoying renewed popularity with people who have moved away deciding to come back and mainlanders looking to retire. It could be the right time to get into the market and capitalise on any future growth.”

What to buy

A historical gem at 10B Franklin Street is for sale. Photo: Supplied

Boasting a rich history as a guest house dating back to the 1800s, Grandview at 10b Franklin Street is a well-appointed private home with local business zoning across two titles.

Capturing views over Great Oyster Bay from the full-length verandah on the second-floor, the fully restored home also has a sunlit conservatory, formal lounge and dining rooms with fireplaces and a modern gas kitchen.

The property is being marketed by Tasmania Sotheby’s with a price guide of $1.3 million.