Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (2025)

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Native ad body. A grand Sydney home transformed with a nod to Georgian architecture A classic Victorian terrace home captures the refined essence of the French Riviera Native ad body. 15 ultra-cool retro motels to book on your next NSW road trip An immersive subterranean world is concealed beneath this Sydney home Native ad body. An off-grid farmhouse with spectacular views on Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast The Block judge Darren Palmer has sold his multi-million dollar Byron Bay holiday home Native ad body. Australian architectural styles: how to identify your home The Myer family has sold its multimillion-dollar heritage manor in Toorak A look inside the homes of 27 much-loved Australian celebrities Native ad body. A grand Sydney home transformed with a nod to Georgian architecture A classic Victorian terrace home captures the refined essence of the French Riviera Native ad body. 15 ultra-cool retro motels to book on your next NSW road trip An immersive subterranean world is concealed beneath this Sydney home Native ad body. An off-grid farmhouse with spectacular views on Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast The Block judge Darren Palmer has sold his multi-million dollar Byron Bay holiday home Native ad body. Australian architectural styles: how to identify your home The Myer family has sold its multimillion-dollar heritage manor in Toorak A look inside the homes of 27 much-loved Australian celebrities Native ad body. A grand Sydney home transformed with a nod to Georgian architecture A classic Victorian terrace home captures the refined essence of the French Riviera Native ad body. 15 ultra-cool retro motels to book on your next NSW road trip An immersive subterranean world is concealed beneath this Sydney home Native ad body. An off-grid farmhouse with spectacular views on Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast The Block judge Darren Palmer has sold his multi-million dollar Byron Bay holiday home Native ad body. Australian architectural styles: how to identify your home The Myer family has sold its multimillion-dollar heritage manor in Toorak A look inside the homes of 27 much-loved Australian celebrities Related stories A grand Sydney home transformed with a nod to Georgian architecture Native ad body. A classic Victorian terrace home captures the refined essence of the French Riviera Native ad body. 15 ultra-cool retro motels to book on your next NSW road trip An immersive subterranean world is concealed beneath this Sydney home An off-grid farmhouse with spectacular views on Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast The Block judge Darren Palmer has sold his multi-million dollar Byron Bay holiday home Native ad body. Australian architectural styles: how to identify your home The Myer family has sold its multimillion-dollar heritage manor in Toorak A look inside the homes of 27 much-loved Australian celebrities Native ad body. Sign up for our newsletter

The path leading to Melinda and Craig Dwyer’s 1920s Borradale Homestead, in Tasmania’s north-west Circular Head, involves driving through paddocks up a steep incline to the crest of an emerald-green hill.

At 100 metres above sea level, the house overlooks the water and out to The Nut, a sheer-sided bluff and the remains of an ancient volcanic plug. Stanley, an isthmus leading to Bass Strait, is where the couple transformed 65 hectares of derelict land into a beef property framed by serene beaches.

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (1)

The couple moved to Tasmania from Queensland in 1999 for Bundaberg-born Craig’s job as veterinarian in a large dairy/mixed clinic, and although Brisbane-born Melinda initially had reservations about the climate, now one of her greatest joys is experiencing all four seasons.

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (2)

The property lies on land first inhabited by the First Nations Peerakka people. In 2009, the first freehold owners of the land – a spinster and a bachelor who had lived there since 1916 – bequeathed it to the Catholic Church, who then sold it off. It changed hands twice before Melinda and Craig bought it in 2016, but had been empty the entire time.

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (25)

Although they’d never owned their own farm before, they weren’t entirely flying blind. “Craig specialises in dairy cattle and nutrition, so knows a lot about animal health and feeding,” Melinda explains. “He also had extensive experience working with cattle farmers.”

With help from an agronomist and fencing farmer, they brought it back to life. But it wasn’t without its challenges. “The land was run-down, the fences non-existent and the pasture was back to the weeds,” recalls Craig. Previous owners had hoarded a mountain of things that were left behind. “There was baling twine and junk everywhere – from the house to the old piggery and hay sheds. In the dairy, it was like someone stopped milking cows 80 years ago – there were old pulsators, separators and milk vats.”

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (26)

For four years, Melinda and Craig lived in the shed while working to enhance the infrastructure and implementing sustaining farming practices for their grass-fed beef shorthorn. At the same time, they were building a modern home for themselves and their three sons – Hugh, Willem and Hunter – about 300 metres away, also on the property.

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (27)

The duo was excited about restoring the historic, four bedroom homestead. “We were enthusiastic about starting Borradale, but it was a big project and we did most of it ourselves, so by the time it was finished we were proud but exhausted,” reflects Craig.

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (28)

Structurally, the building was mostly solid, except for the wraparound verandah which needed to be rebuilt. “We had to replace some weatherboards and strip back the walls to repaint, but for a house that was over 100 years old, it was pretty amazing,” says Craig.

The biggest changes involved connecting a small worker’s cottage to the main house and creating a full powder room from what had been “basically a toilet in a wardrobe,” says Melinda.

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (51)
Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (52)

Craig and Melinda enlisted decorator Belle Hemming, who fulfilled their ‘relaxed, country vibe’ brief. Melinda managed to speak with relatives of the original owners and tracked down some photos of their prize-winning sheep, old ancestral portraits and pet cats; these images now adorn the walls.

Brimming with character, the interiors feature classic fixtures including claw-foot bathtubs with spectacular rural views. Each of the four bedrooms has its own unique identity, none more so than The Blue Room – the largest of the bedrooms and Melinda’s personal favourite.

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (53)
Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (54)

The warm and inviting communal space is a nod to the past, with simple, shared and wholesome activities such as board games, a roaring fireplace for curling up with a book, and a cosy farmhouse kitchen.

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (55)

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (78)
Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (79)

For visiting guests, there’s a small larder with locally sourced gourmet produce, including octopus, charcuterie, cheeses, wine and their own premium Cape Grim beef. “It’s like a giant minibar!” says Melinda, who harvests everything from rhubarb to beetroot and salad greens. She’s also passionately involved in rehabilitating the local landscape.

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (80)

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In between Craig’s job and Melinda’s hours as a practice nurse, they maintain the running of the farm. “Most of the day-to-day operations fall to Craig, and he calls me and the kids his ‘workforce’,” says Melinda, laughing. This involves checking the water and feed, moving the cows to fresh pasture and calving the cows. When required, Craig also distributes the silage and hay, gives minerals and vaccinates the cows.

Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (81)

“Craig gets up early and does the daily tasks before work, but if he is away, I fill in with the boys,” Melinda says. “We’re all very capable and everyone knows how to put the cattle through the yards, drive the tractors and use the equipment. It’s all hands on deck. But the bigger jobs are done on the weekends, as a family.”

WriterCarli Philips

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Borradale Homestead: A Restored Edwardian Cottage In Tasmania | Homes To Love (2025)
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