No-one actually knows when it was built, or by whom. It used to be surrounded by an orchard of Democrat apples on three sides, from back in the day when there were apple orchards all the way back to Huonville. It was often the person whose job it was to pick that orchard, who lived there.
It is now a fully-equipped one-bedroom tiny cottage sitting in the heart of Valleyfield farm.
Tiny's is available for 6-12 month stays.
The space
"Most magical tiny home in Tasmania! "★★★★★
It was nearly falling down already, in places. Joists were rotting. Weatherboards were back to bare timber and unpainted for over 20 years. A tacked-on bathroom with a too-low ceiling and off-kilter floor gave the most recent ‘wing’ of the place a “crazy-house” feel.
We considered tearing it down, but we’re so glad we didn’t. It’s been a struggle, but we’re thrilled to have preserved this link to the past.
Locally, this little house has been known as “Miss Havisham’s” (referencing the neglected abode of the Great Expectations character), “the Mustard Pot” (it was once that crazy colour), and most recently, simply “the hovel”, as it decayed under decades of neglect.We named it “Tiny’s” after the local nickname of the much-loved, diminutive (and likely longest-tenured) tenant.
Valleyfield has seen six generations of the same family since it was established in the 1860s by pioneers living on the southern alluvial flats of the mighty Huon River, before there was even a bridge connecting them to the north.
'And one of the unexpected joys was a friendly bull in the neighbor's paddock - such a sweet surprise and honestly made my day.' - guest review.
Tiny's is available for 6-12 month stays.
What you can expect @ Tiny’s
The Flash stuff...
- Heating via wood fire and panel heater (wood for fires provided).
- Mod-con and well-equiped kitchen with dishwasher, electric oven, induction cooktop, quality cookware, utensils, glassware and crockery.
- Espresso machine with milk frother and inbuilt coffee grinder.
- Laundry with washing machine, iron and ironing board.
- Smart TV and 100mbps↓ wi-fi internet on NBN wireless.
- Bluetooth speaker.
- Outdoor sheltered area with BBQ and open fireplace.
- King bed, with additional bedding and electric blanket.
- Spare set of linen and pillow options
'The kitchen was a real highlight, with a beautiful dinnerware set and quality cookware just like what I use at home' - guest review.
Minimum stay:
the minimum stay at Tiny's is 6 months.
Children:
We welcome children to Tiny's, but please note that there are no safety features in place for babies or younger children. A port-a-cot, highchair or rollaway for a child are available on request.
*Acknowledgement.
The Melukurdee people used to take a trail through what is now Valleyfield, over Lane’s Hill at the top of the farm, to Franklin. This relatively short walk gave them access to different food sources at opposite ends of the journey, as the river snakes around those hills and changes from freshwater to tidal, salty waters along the way. Our family’s history includes stories of the Melukurdee people stopping by the houses to ask for pins, which they would fashion into fishing hooks.
We’re proud of the farm’s heritage. We’re not proud of the fact that this is stolen land.
Guest access
The entire cottage and garden is area is for the use of guests.
Other things to note
The not so flash stuff....
FENCING:
While we do have plans to fence Tiny's and allow guests to bring their pet, Tiny's is not yet fenced.
ROAD NOISE:
The cottage sits by a rural road (C619) which you can see on the listing map, so if you are particularly sensitive to road noise, Tiny's is not for you.
ELECTRIC FENCES:
Tiny's sits in the heart of a working farm, which means that there are electric fences in use. For this reason please do not touch any of the temporary or permanent fences on the farm.
FIRES:
Fires are not allowed during 'total fire ban' times. We will advise guests if restrictions are in place.
WATER SUPPLY:
The cottage is on tank water.
Registration details
VA-25
