EAST COAST CHIC

Bek and Paul Burrows have restored their period cottage for a relaxing escape that reflects their passion for reclaimed and antique finds

- ALI HEATH

This relaxed, breezy cottage could be on the UK’s south coast or the shores of New England. In fact, it’s in Swansea, on Tasmania’s east coast – the dream holiday home of Bek and Paul Burrows, found after a decade-long search.

Bek and Paul, renowned in Tasmania for their work as exclusive boutique wedding event planners and stylists, have been coming to Swansea for the last 25 years, for both holiday and work. Situated on Tasmania’s east coast, on the north-west shore of Great Oyster Bay, overlooking Freycinet National Park, Swansea was the first municipality in Australia to be established after Hobart and Sydney. ‘I came here with a friend’s family when I was 12 and remember thinking that time had stood still,’ says Bek. ‘I fell in love with its simple charm and with a population of just 850 people, it is a wonderful place to escape to.’

Built-in 1860, the period stone cottage in Swansea was a fortuitous find, newly listed on a local real estate site. After initial disappointment when the seller dropped out, the property came back on the market. Thirty days later the couple received the keys and hot-footed it to Swansea, after one of their wedding events. ‘Our trailer was ready to go, packed with a new bed, luxurious linens, buckets of fresh flowers, a loaf of bread and some cheese. We were desperate to stay – it felt very romantic,’ says Bek.