On the water’s edge at Primrose Sands – about 30 minutes from Hobart – a former fishing shack has been transformed into something completely portable: a two-bedroom waterfront residence bursting with colour, pattern and warmth.
Listed from $735,000, 121 Linden Road offers a rare waterfront property under $1m, with sweeping views across Gypsy Bay and out across Frederick Henry Bay to the Tasman Peninsula and direct access to the nearby jetty via a private gate.
The colorful shack draws inspiration from the British seaside. Photo: realestate.com.au
Seller Alison calls it a “labour of love”, and says selling it is emotional: “It hurts to sell it,” she told realestate.com.au.
“But I will cherish the memories. We did it while raising our three children… learning as we go.”
The house itself has the DNA of a deep slum. Built in 1964 from recycled materials, Alison said it was “built from scraps…
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The home has sweeping views across Gypsy Bay. Photo: realestate.com.au
It currently operates as a popular Airbnb, bringing in $70,000 in revenue last year. Photo: realestate.com.au
Around here, they’re not holiday homes – “we call them ‘shacks’ in Tassie,” she said.
But Primrose Sands is also changing. Alison described it as a “really big local community” with lots of family shacks and Airbnbs, but it’s becoming more residential, with locals moving into nearby facilities.
The two-bedroom shack is seeking offers over $735,000. Photo: realestate.com.au
Dodges Ferry is only 10 minutes away for restaurants and an independent shop full of Tasmanian produce.
Inside the home is where the surprise happens. Left with a blank canvas, Alison wanted to “go crazy with colors and patterns… go build hard,” because “the market for neutrals was so saturated; they’re all starting to look the same.”
A wood heater adds warmth and ambience during the cooler months. Photo: realestate.com.au
His thinking was part creative, part practical: “In Tassie we do a lot of neutral designs,” he says, “but it’s cold here half the year. Or more.”
Therefore, he looked at the living of the British sea for inspiration – “a lot of colors and wallpaper and upholstery” – because, he said, the weather is the same and the result is hot quickly. In his own words: “warm… funny and irreverent. I wanted to create something that felt less serious. Especially for visitors on vacation!”
The home offers a generous master bedroom and a second bedroom. Photo: realestate.com.au
The home sits on the water’s edge. Photo: realestate.com.au
The property currently operates as a successful Airbnb with year-round demand. Alison said revenue in 2025 was over $70,000, up on the previous year – with an incredibly strong winter: “We’ve actually been very busy in June/July/August, which is unusual for Tasmania. We’ve had no downtime.”
Thanks to the cedar hot tub – and its front row view. “Sitting in the tub, looking right out at the Tasman Peninsula, is an amazing experience. It’s one of Tassie’s best places and you’re looking right at it.”
The cedar hot tub has water views. Photo: realestate.com.au
Outside, the grounds are well thought out with native plants, “I did all the landscaping myself,” she said. “Me and the cart.”
She said a neighbor who works with a local Landcare group helped her take her to the coastal wildlife, which she mixed with perennials and grasses to keep the garden resilient and water-free. Even the driveway was a DIY victory: Alison laid a geo-technical grid product, filled it with gravel, and said that she reduced the amount of hard space (and running) while maintaining the relaxed look of the beach.
A private gate provides direct access to the nearby jetty directly from your backyard. Photo: realestate.com.au
The harbor does something else: “On any given day, dolphins will pass by, seals… sometimes whales.” “We even have an echidna in the garden,” Alison added.
Finally, there is another kind of magic. Alison named the area ‘The Lady’ as a nod to the local nickname for the Aurora Australis. Since the deck faces south, the view is more open when the lights decide to “dance.”
