Building in Railton
Tasmania's Town of Topiary — a rural Kentish township at the foot of the Great Western Tiers, 20 minutes from Devonport.
Farming Country, Davies Country
Railton sits 20 kilometres inland from Devonport, tucked into a gentle valley at the base of the Great Western Tiers. It is the kind of Tasmanian township that people from away imagine when they picture the island: unhurried, genuinely rural, with a landscape of dairy farms and paddocks stretching out to a dramatic mountain backdrop. The population is around 1,100 people — small enough that community is real, large enough that there's a school, a footy club, and a handful of local businesses.
What most visitors notice first — and what locals take quiet pride in — is the topiary. Over 100 sculpted hedge characters line Railton's streets, in front gardens, in the parks, and along the walking paths. Dogs, dinosaurs, peacocks, and whole scenes rendered in meticulously clipped greenery make Railton genuinely distinct among Tasmanian country towns. It has become a tourism drawcard, but more than that, it's an expression of a community that takes care of the place it lives in.
For home builders, Railton's appeal is straightforward: affordable land within the Kentish municipality, with the same farming character and mountain backdrop that draws people to Sheffield — at lower land prices. The road north to Devonport and Latrobe takes about 20 minutes; Sheffield is 13 kilometres south. You're not remote. You're rural, and that's exactly the point.
Railton is also in Davies' home territory. We are based in Sheffield, within the same Kentish Council area. We know the planning environment here, the trades, the conditions — and the particular pleasure of building a quality home with Cradle Mountain on the horizon.
Why People Choose Railton
Cradle Mountain Gateway
Railton sits on the primary tourist route to Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park — one of Tasmania's most visited World Heritage destinations. Weekends here mean alpine walking, wilderness drives, and some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia, all within easy reach.
Genuine Rural Character
Dairy farms, mixed cropping, and open paddocks define the landscape around Railton. This is working farming country — the kind of place where land is used, valued, and understood. For those who want genuine rural living rather than a rural aesthetic, Railton delivers the real thing.
Town of Topiary
More than 100 topiary sculptures line Railton's streets — a beloved tradition that gives the town unique character and a steady stream of curious visitors. It's a reflection of a community that takes visible pride in its home.
20 Minutes to Devonport
Devonport is Tasmania's third-largest city, home to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal, a regional hospital, TAFE, shopping centres, and the services of a major port city. All of it is 20 kilometres north of Railton — close enough to use regularly, far enough to feel genuinely separate.
Affordable Land Entry
Railton median house prices sit around $400,000 — well below the north-west coast coastal towns. For those who want a quality rural lifestyle home without paying coastal premiums, Railton's land values present a compelling opportunity to invest in build quality rather than land cost.
Davies' Home Ground
Sheffield and Railton are both Kentish Council towns, 13 kilometres apart. Davies Design & Construction has been building in this municipality since 2009. We know the planning environment, the conditions, and the right trades — there's no learning curve on a Railton build.
What to Know About Building in Railton
Building in Railton means working with Kentish Council — the same council that governs Davies' home base of Sheffield. We know this planning environment intimately. Here's what to understand before you start:
- The Tasmanian Planning Scheme came into effect for the Kentish local government area on 26 March 2025, replacing the previous interim scheme. This brings Railton into alignment with the state-wide system, with all planning applications now processed through the PlanBuild Tasmania portal.
- Railton sits in a frost-prone inland valley. Morning frosts from April through October are common. A high-performance thermal envelope — airtight construction, quality insulation, and north-facing passive solar design — is essential for comfort and low running costs across a Kentish winter.
- Agricultural land protection provisions apply to the broader Kentish area. Residential-zoned land in Railton's township area is available, but it's worth verifying zoning and any rural living overlays on specific allotments before you commit to a purchase.
- Site access is generally uncomplicated. Railton has a flat to gently undulating topography and good road connections. Unlike coastal bluff or hillside builds, Railton sites tend toward straightforward footings and buildable ground — which helps contain costs.
- Trades and suppliers from both Sheffield and Devonport service the Railton area. Our established subcontractor network across the Kentish and Latrobe regions means no supply chain complications for a Railton build.
Davies Design & Construction has been building in the Kentish municipality since 2009 — the year we were founded. Railton is home ground for us. Our award-winning Kentish Grove Estate project is a few kilometres south in Sheffield, and we've built across the full range of Kentish conditions over that time. When you build with us in Railton, you're working with people who understand this land.
Davies Projects in the Region
Our portfolio spans the Kentish municipality and the wider north-west coast — every project a demonstration of what's possible when design rigour meets precise construction.