Photography: Eliska Sharp
If walls could talk, those of Blackbird Cottage would undoubtedly whisper “Thank you”. Weary and tobaccostained, the 1870s-built property, located in the Tasmanian town of Cygnet, was in disrepair before Lindy Rahn and her husband, Gavin, saw something beneath the dust and the droopy ceiling worth uncovering. With a clear vision of what could be, the couple threw themselves into a six-month renovation to rekindle the warmth and charm that once was.
Tucked beside the Agnes Rivulet, around 50 minutes’ drive south of Hobart in the Huon Valley, the home’s original architectural features were largely intact despite the neglect when the pair purchased it in May 2023. Built from solid blackwood timber with a traditionally Georgian square design and symmetrical facade, the home had plenty of character, so they vowed to replace only what was necessary.
“It required a complete overhaul to make it liveable, but our philosophy was simple: to honour the past while bringing the home into the present,” says Lindy.
Originally from Hobart, the couple returned to the Apple Isle in 2015 following 15 years in Perth, where they moved for Gavin’s work as a training supervisor in the mining sector. “By then, our two kids had grown up and were doing their own thing, and we wanted to spend time with family and friends back in Hobart,” explains Lindy, 61.
Having enjoyed a country lifestyle in WA, they bought an eight-hectare farm in Geeveston on the other side of the Huon Valley, where they restored the 1895-built farmhouse. Five years on, however, they had a desire to downsize.
Serendipitously, the agent selling the farm for them owned a cottage in Cygnet – one that called for seasoned renovators. The duo was up for the challenge, renting nearby while they repaired the original part of the cottage before tackling a lean-to addition.
After the plastering phase was complete, Gavin, 64, returned to work while Lindy, a schoolteacher, had recently retired and stayed to oversee the rest. “The bathroom and kitchen lean-to were the most significant parts of the renovation,” says Lindy. “The space was noncompliant and had to be demolished, but the rebuild allowed us to re-create a cottage look within the original footprint.”
As the challenges of renovating a heritage property arose, Lindy remained optimistic. “The council wouldn’t allow us to extend the footprint by even one metre, so we had to be creative,” she says. “For three months, the shed was our kitchen. We had moved in after finishing the original cottage and set up a temporary bathroom, spending the summer glamping in our own home while the new kitchen and bathroom were completed.”
The couple worked from the outside in, re-roofing, threading insulation batts between the timber noggin frame, rewiring, and plastering walls that had been roughly covered with newspaper and layers of wallpaper. “The original board-and-batten ceiling was revived with a forensic cleaner recommended by a follower – we literally watched nicotine drip from it onto the old carpet!” says Lindy. The chimneys were shored up, the stone foundations repointed, and the convex verandah replaced.
Taking on the smaller jobs themselves to stay on budget and speed up the process, Lindy and Gavin hired tradespeople for the more demanding work and larger building elements.“I project managed and was on site every day, tackling the demolition, painting, wallpaper stripping, and hanging,” says Lindy, who picked up some new talents along the way.
Restoration isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about respect. We made decisions slowly, room by room.
Lindy Rahn, Owner
Final touches include earthy green and golden ochre walls paired with soft florals and natural textures. “Restoration isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about respect,” adds Lindy. “We made decisions slowly, room by room, choosing to live in unfinished spaces to observe how the light fell and what truly needed to be added.”
The house continues to evolve with minor updates such as custom wardrobes, window replacements, and new tiling and railing. Now enjoying the slow pace of village life and their cosy cottage, Lindy tutors from home while Gavin does gardening work locally. “In Cygnet, we have cafes and bars, everything we need; we don’t have to go to town unless we want to visit friends,” says Lindy. “It’s like living in the city and the country… we have the best of both worlds.”
Follow @blackbird.cottage on Instagram.
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