The Burrows—Tasmania’s East Coast
Shaped by the coastal landscape and a deep sensitivity to place, The Burrows reimagines an 1860s weatherboard cottage into a calming Tasmanian escape.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos ADAM GIBSON
‘We wanted to create spaces that felt soft, slow and a bit undone, where guests could completely switch off and relax,’ says The Burrows owners and host, Bek Burrows and Paul DeRuyter.
The colours within The Burrows reflect those of the surrounding landscape, drawing from the colours of Great Oyster Bay, Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island.
‘Every decision we made—in terms of both design and outlook, when re-imagining The Burrows was focused on the view.’
The kitchen is layered with vintage finds, ceramics, and objects that speak to the art of living slowly by the sea.
‘Guests share that there is a familiarity to The Burrows—echoes of their grandparents' house, holiday shack or a perhaps feeling of their childhood overall.’
“Many of our guests have shared their shoulders drop, and they start to feel the stress of everyday life leaving as they drive in the gate.”
Restored timber doors open to the Tasmanian landscape on the doorstep.
Freshly baked sourdough, croissants, and local preserves, mornings at The Burrows begin slowly, shaped by simple local pleasures.
An inviting fireplace anchors the living room, where layered textures and gentle light creates a space made for pause.
Looking out across Great Oyster Bay, The Burrows is framed by dunes, sea grass, and shifting Tasmanian light.
‘We chose deeper, moodier shades for the bedrooms and smaller spaces, creating a calming cocoon effect.’
‘We wanted to be able to take in the view and the landscape from anywhere in the house.’
A free-standing, claw-foot tub opens to the garden view and sea.
In the bedroom: layered linens, vintage details, and a palette drawn from the coastal landscape.
A circular timber store sits tucked beside the cottage, stacked with pinecones and split logs, ready for the cooler weather.
‘Bringing in the weather visually, whilst remaining cosy inside, is key to our own relaxation and is also very much welcomed by our guests.’
Perched above Great Oyster Bay, The Burrows, owned by Bek Burrows and Paul DeRuyter, is both a home away from home escape, and an invitation to slow down.
The 1860s weatherboard cottage in Swansea, Tasmania, has been reimagined as a retreat, where the rhythm of the coast and the tactility of age guide every decision.
‘We had been looking for several years before coming across the property,’ says Bek. ‘Once we discovered, and had an opportunity to view it, we put in an offer instantly. The view, the huge expanse of sky, water, the landscape… everything was perfect!’ Located between Hobart and Launceston, Swansea offered balance, an escape that still connected to their lives and work across Tasmania.
In reshaping The Burrows, the pair drew deeply from their surroundings. ‘The colours we have used within our home echo those of the surrounding landscape, drawing particularly from the colours of Great Oyster Bay, Freycinet Peninsula and Schouten Island,’ Bek explains. ‘We chose deeper, moodier shades for the bedrooms and smaller spaces, creating a calming cocoon effect. The living spaces are lighter to allow the large windows to capture the light, bringing the outside in.’
Windows are central to the experience within. ‘Every decision we made, in terms of both design and outlook, was focused on the view,’ says Paul. The once-solid eastern wall, typical of the home’s 19th-century build, is now open to the landscape, from the shower to the bathhouse. ‘We wanted to be able to take in the view and the landscape from anywhere in the house.’
Inside, the mood is soft and lived-in. ‘We wanted to create spaces that felt soft, slow and a bit undone—where guests could completely switch off and relax,’ says Bek. Natural textures including wood, wool, linen, feather and jute, replace gloss and polished surfaces. ‘Most of our fittings and furnishings are second hand or vintage so have already been gently worn or broken in,’ she adds. The kitchen is made to be cooked in, the window seat to linger in, and the Rayburn wood stove to be stoked and savoured.
When guests arrive, the change is almost physical. ‘Many of our guests have shared that their shoulders drop and they start to feel the stress of everyday life leaving as they drive in the gate,’ Bek says. The house carries a sense of nostalgia, echoes of grandparents’ homes, old shacks and familiar rituals, yet it feels distinctly of the present: grounded, generous, and utterly in tune with its place.
Across seasons, the cottage holds steady: birdlife shifts and sings with the weather; long windows frame Freycinet’s light from bathhouse to daybed. Many choose not to leave at all, though the coast beckons, from penguin-watched swims at Coswell, to quiet walks at Kelvedon and Spiky, day trips to Maria Island, and stops for oysters, coffee and wine nearby. In the garden, secateurs invite gentle foraging; future plans for a greenhouse hint at slow, productive hours alongside the rambling beds. The Burrows is about connection as much as shelter, a place to rest and take in the incredible surrounding landscape.
