Couple leaves Dubai for Clarence Point, fulfilling a dream to open a sculpture gallery in Tasmania

The couple had lived and worked in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates since 2007, Roy - originally from Sri Lanka - working as an executive chef for a global company with restaurants in Kuwait, Bahrain, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Peta, from Brisbane, worked as an administration controller for The Meat Co., a sleek waterfront steakhouse.

But they had always dreamed of moving to Tasmania ever since their first holiday to the island in 2003 when they crossed the Bass Strait on the Devil Cat, landing in George Town and driving around for two weeks.

"We knew the minute we set foot on the stunning island that we would someday manage to move here permanently and call this amazing state our home," Peta said.

Roy had always been passionate about wood, woodwork and timber, and when he first saw a piece of Huon pine, their idea to open a sculpture gallery was born.

The couple bought a 14-acre property on Clarence Point Road at Clarence Point and converted the land from cow and sheep paddocks into a sculpture garden.

They include a huge blue wheelbarrow, car-like steel structures and a sculpted bookshelf that welcomes visitors. A local stonemason upgraded their entrance with a gate that includes welded-together farm tools.

Roy set to work creating grazing platters, boards and sculptures of his own.

They received approval from the council in 2018 to convert their garage into a gallery featuring works from 14 Tasmanian artists and replaced garage doors with barn-style doors.

Sculptured Gallery is now complete, and ready to accept visitors.

It was certainly a far cry from their life in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

"We are now both in our fifties, had worked in hospitality for more than 30 years and could not imagine living in a big city anymore," Peta said.

Now they get to wait and see if their property will produce truffles.

"We have planted large numbers of trees, which in time will create a park like garden," Peta said.

"We even have 24 truffle inoculated trees, which we purchased from Henry Terry at Tasmanian Truffles … they are coming along, but a few more years before we will know if they will provide us with truffles."

Entry to Sculptured Gallery is free and visitors are welcome to explore the expansive grounds.

The gallery and gardens are open from 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday.