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50 acres of bliss at No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate. Picture: Supplied
“I WOULD love it if a family bought our 50 acres at Margate”.
This is the gut feeling Neil Laughlin has about his handmade home at No.396 Old Bernies Road, Margate.
With retirement on the horizon, he has made the tough call to let his family property move on to new owners, after building it himself in the 1990s.
“It has been a wonderful family home and workplace for my musical instrument making business,” he said.
“Heart and soul have been poured into it over the years. We brought up a family here.”
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No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
Mr Laughlin said the lush green natural setting was what initially drew him to the property.
“The house is surrounded by bushland and is elevated to the point where we can enjoy fantastic views — as far as Maria Island on a clear day,” he said.
“Margate is full of wallabies, kangaroos, Tassie devils, and fantastic birdlife.
“And we get lovely snow most years. Enough to be a novelty, but not enough to be a nuisance!”
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom stone and wood house is a showcase of natural Tasmanian materials.
“The cladding is celery top pine, with the idea that it greys and silvers off over time — a natural look,” he said.
“There are Oregon beams, Tasmanian oak floorboards, myrtle ceiling panelling, and macrocarpa benchtops in the kitchen, and a blue gum mantle piece.”
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No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
Some of the timber had originally been bought for Mr Laughlin’s guitar-making business.
“Being able to use it in the house turned out really well,” he said.
“The blue stone on the exterior came from the Hazell Bros quarry at Leslie Vale — browns, creams and the fresh blue faces. My dad did the stonework for the house.”
Every corner of this residence exudes warmth and character, from the rustic elegance of the living spaces to the cosy nooks that invite you to sit and relax. Large windows frame the stunning views, bringing the outside in and filling the home with natural light.
All the bedrooms are big, especially upstairs, where the scenic outlook is divine.
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
Beyond the main residence, this property offers a versatile 22-square shed, ideal for storage, plus a workshop, or a creative studio.
The shed has its own quarters and the power is metered separately to the house as well as having been registered as a business previously.
Adjacent to the main dwelling is a delightful guest room, complete with a new bathroom, kitchenette, and bed.
This additional space is perfect for hosting friends and family, or even generating rental income.
“I’ll miss having a cuppa on the veranda and watching the wedge-tailed eagles,” he said.
“It has been a magical place for a family lifestyle, with walking trails to explore and four creeks — which are like a rainforest — where you can often find a platypus.
“I’d love to see a young family move in and have just as much pleasure from it as we have had.”
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate.
No.396 Old Bernies Rd, Margate is for sale with LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property.
It is priced at “Offers over $1.275m”. An open home will be held on November 9, from 11.45am to 12.15pm.