The story of Ram Island began with a simple newspaper advertisement and grew into a 17-year project that turned a weed-covered, undeveloped piece of Tasmania into a private home. Ralph and Caralyn Mansfield bought the 26-hectare island in Little Swanport in 2002, even though it had no jetty, ramps or home. Much of the land was covered in gorse, and the couple knew it would take years before they could live there. In 2019, after clearing the site and moving 38 truckloads of building materials across the water, they finally made the island their home.
How a 26-hectare island entered the lives of an Australian couple
Ram Island sits off Tasmania’s east coast, between Orford and Swansea. When Ralph Mansfield first saw the property, it was not ready for anyone to live on. As reported by Domain, about 80% of the island was covered in gorse weed. There was also no jetty or ramp, making even basic construction work difficult.The island came into the Mansfields’ lives almost by chance. Ralph saw a small advertisement in a Melbourne newspaper, travelled to Tasmania to inspect the property and returned home having signed the contracts. He then told Caralyn that he had bought an island.At the time, the couple were living on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula. Ralph, a building contractor, already had the practical experience needed to imagine what the neglected property could become. Their long-term plan was to retire there, but turning that idea into reality would take considerably more time than simply buying the land.
Ralph and Caralyn Mansfield moved to Tasmania’s Ram Island in 2019. Image Credit: Natasha Mulhall
The long work of turning an undeveloped island into the couple’s home
After Ralph eventually wound up his construction business, the couple moved to Tasmania and began preparing the Ram Island. They lived in a caravan while clearing weeds, rocks and dead logs from the property.The home itself was not an overnight decision either. According to Domain, the couple had been slowly designing it for 8 years. Instead of creating a house that looked out of place, they wanted the building to sit naturally within its surroundings.Getting the materials there was one of the biggest challenges. Ralph worked with a local engineer to build a landing barge that could handle the job. Over two days, the couple moved the equivalent of 38 truckloads of materials to the island before construction could properly begin. Domain reported that Ralph described the operation as the biggest logistical job he had undertaken.
How the island landscape shaped the Australian couple’s home
The surrounding landscape became a major part of the home. The house was positioned towards the north, with large areas of glass looking towards Freycinet, Schouten Island and the Little Swanport estuary.A 5-metre-deep wraparound deck extends the living space outside and gives the couple a place to take in the views. The exterior uses silvertop ash timber, while weathering steel was used around the edge of the roof. Inside, blackheart sassafras, a Tasmanian native timber that is difficult to find, was used for the floorboards and staircases, as reported by DomainThe finished property also became highly self-sufficient. Realestate reported that the island has a 45kW solar system with battery storage and a backup generator. Rainwater storage holds 250,000 litres. The home also has a powered garage and workshop for equipment.
Mansfields’ lives on Ram Island after waiting for 17 years
When the house was finally ready, island life was quieter than the years of construction. The Mansfields spent their time walking, cooking outdoors, working around the house and watching the wildlife.Domain reported that kangaroos and wallabies live on the island, while the birdlife was another part of what made the property special to the couple. A private jetty at Pontypool provided a practical connection to mainland Tasmania, allowing them to travel across for supplies and social visits.Ram Island also carried a history that stretched well beyond the Mansfields. They were the first people to live there since 1939, when the Pyke family left after occupying the island for about a century. According to Ralph, the family had grown wheat, baked bread, kept animals and maintained vegetable gardens there.
What happened to the island after the Australian couple left
The Mansfields eventually decided to move closer to their family in Victoria after spending more than 4 years living on the island. Domain reported that the property was put on the market as one of only 11 privately owned islands in Tasmania.The next step came in 2026. Realestate reported that Ram Island had been sold, although the final price was not disclosed. The new owner was described as someone with strong ties to Tasmania who spends considerable time in the state.According to Realestate, the completed property has every system in place needed for a life away from the mainland. The transformation required the couple to turn a place that had been uninhabited for decades into something they could call home.
