A DECADE ago, Susie Aulich and Gordon Cuff had a plan.
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A vision to turn a 20-hectare Mount Arthur property – run entirely off its own hydroelectricity and solar energy – into an eco-boutique, self-contained accommodation business.
Their dream has come true and is flourishing.
On the same land as their home, the couple have been running The Trig Studio for the past five years, adding The Container 12 months ago to complete their goal.
Ms Aulich, a former Drysdale manager, has retired to run the property, while Mr Cuff continues to work as a rural real estate agent.
“I was originally from Scottsdale and Gordon was from Launceston but I spent about 15 years travelling before I came back to raise a family,” Ms Aulich said.
“When we bought the property 10 years ago we planted 200 native pepperberries, which we harvest on the farm, we’ve got 250 waratahs that we sell for cut flowers and 500 peony roses.
“Two accommodation buildings is enough on the property. We decided to build something made totally out of recyclables – everything at The Container has had a life before.
“All the wood for the wood heater comes from our property, the eggs come from our chooks, the vegetables from our garden and we really push local produce.”
“This is what we have been working towards… in away I am now putting all those things I used to teach into practice.”
Ms Aulich said The Trig was frequented by mainly 25 to 40-year-old mainland professionals looking to escape city life.
However, surprisingly many trek from Launceston for a quick night away also.
She said guests don’t often leave the farm, opting to enjoy the company of the roaming sheep and wildlife.
“The accommodation is positioned so they don’t meet anybody else, what we are promoting is a getaway where they don’t have to deal with people,” Ms Aulich said.
“That is our niche and I think there are very few places where people can go for a weekend away and not see anybody.
“We have a beautiful greenhouse on the property and everything is organic including the sheets and towels and guests come and collect their own eggs and get their vegetables to use.”
Visitors are encouraged to cook using the farm's produce, listen to many of the 500 music records available, read from the on-site library and even bathe outside.
The property is also next door to the Mount Arthur walking track – a five hour return up to the sumit – with several bike tracks nearby.
Just 20 minutes from Launceston, Ms Aulich said it was a little piece of paradise she and Mr Cuff are all too happy to share.