Its sleek, architectural profile stands out among the sand dunes of Low Head.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Inside, walls of windows lap up the seaside views, while Tasmanian-produced art brings colour to the minimalist walls.
It is a dream 11 years in the making.
Cathryn and Dean Cocker have been mulling over concepts for the land for the better part of the past decade.
Low Head Beach House is the product of that process, and the start of what the Cockers hope will be a new era for the Tamar Valley area.
The concept is simple: a top-end accommodation that fills a gap in the market in coastal Northern Tasmania.
Mrs Cocker said the pair was inspired by a visit to Swansea’s Avalon Coastal Retreat, a few years ago.
“We just thought, ‘We need something like that in the North’,” Mrs Cocker said.
“The idea is just to get something happening that’s a bit special up this end in the North.
“There’s really nothing here, yet.
“The area needs a bit of hope and energy put back into it
“We just see that we’re investing a lot down here, and there’s so much potential. It’s a little piece of paradise.”
Tourism Northern Tasmania chief executive Chris Griffin said offerings such as Low Head Beach House could go a long way to create a buzz for regions.
“For us, it’s really exciting to have this quality of development, and so visible as well,” Mr Griffin said, adding that it would build onto the strong historical tourism that George Town and Low Head already offered.
“It’s an extension of what we have to offer as a tourism destination.
“Sometimes you need that big hook, that big speccy thing to attract people’s attention.”
Mr Griffin said he believed the development had the potential to boost the region’s profile, in a similar to fashion to the Avalon effect on the East Coast.
“We really feel that tourism is a big thing for Tasmania, but in perspective, there is just so much untapped potential down here in the George Town-Low Head region,” she said.
“Low Head, the travel distance is 35 minutes’ drive from Launceston. Lagoon Beach is so safe, so family friendly.
“It was the travel distance and also we want to be able to take the tourists to the wineries, and Barnbougle [Dunes near Bridport].”
The beach house will be offered as luxury accommodation, and Mrs Cocker envisages that it will be utilised also as a function centre for weddings, or special gatherings.
She hopes that a nearby heritage-church could be used for wedding ceremonies, and the reception to be rolled into the beach house.
They’re looking to corner the function market by further offering packages with a private chef, and tours to nearby attractions to cater to tourists.
For now, the Cockers are hiring out the beach house, while still utilising it themselves, just to get a feel for the concept they’ve created.
“[We are seeing] how it all works, and what might be missing, but just enjoying it and coming up with different experiences for guests,” Mrs Cocker said.
It’s just the start of the pair’s plans for the area.
Nearby is what they hope will soon be a beach club for the area.
Flock Beach Club is going through the approvals process at the George Town Council for now, but Mrs Cocker said she hopes it will be off the ground soon, and bringing another level of offerings to the area.
She bought the iconic Page’s coffee van from Launceston’s Brisbane Street Mall when the business closed, and will merge it into a business with a guiding architectural hand.
“It will be takeaway, with beach-style food, and in the future look to hire out kayaks and things like that, just to take to the beach,” she said.
“There’s nothing quite cool or funky that goes with the area here.”
It’s also planned that Flock will have a sandy, outdoor area for activities, like beach volleyball.
“Once this is up and running, Flock is done, we’ve got plans for the next thing,” Mrs Cocker said.
The “vision”, as they call it, has been a long time in the making for the Launceston couple, who are well known in the business community – Mrs Cocker with Bladerunner hair salon, and Mr Cocker at the JAC Group.
“This is Dean and mine’s first project together, it’s exciting,” Mrs Cocker said.
There is more to the land that the beach house sits on than just business – there is history, and romance.
The pair bought the parcel of land on a date 11 years ago, on Australia Day.
They agreed that should the relationship not work out, one would buy the other out.
“But here we are, married, with children…,” Mrs Cocker said.
“Every year we came here, on Australia Day, and sat and dreamed.”
It has taken just over a year to build the property, and the pair is now focusing on embedding it and themselves into the community.
Already, it includes artwork from Nigel Lazenby, and scented candles from Tenille Collection, both of Northern Tasmania.
They plan to involve local talent as much as possible.
“The vision is to be a part of the community down here,” Mrs Cocker said.
“If people can see we’re serious about investing here, then maybe they will see that this is a really special place.”