Building in Sassafras
Rural lifestyle blocks in the Latrobe hinterland — 352 residents, 20 km from Devonport, 25 minutes from Sheffield, bordered by the Mersey River and productive farmland.
Rural Latrobe Hinterland
Sassafras sits in the Latrobe local government area, approximately 20 kilometres inland from Devonport with the Mersey River forming part of its western boundary. It is a small rural community — around 352 people per the 2021 Census — characterised by agricultural land, lifestyle blocks, and the quiet rhythms of north-west Tasmanian farming country. The draw is direct: space, productive land, and genuine rural character at a price point that coastal and urban Tasmania cannot match.
The area is connected south to Railton via the C153, and north toward Devonport through the Latrobe and Spreyton corridor. Latrobe town itself — a compact heritage precinct with the Mersey River foreshore, hotel, and local services — is nearby and gives Sassafras residents a genuine local hub without requiring the full trip to Devonport for everyday needs. Devonport's retail, hospital, and the Spirit of Tasmania terminal are accessible in under 25 minutes.
For home builders, Sassafras offers the kind of rural site that is increasingly difficult to find close to a regional centre: agricultural land at realistic prices, manageable site conditions, and a council planning framework that is workable for rural residential development. Those who choose to build here are making a deliberate choice — space, outlook, and the pace of country living within comfortable reach of the coast.
Davies has been building in the Latrobe Council area since 2009. Our Sheffield workshop is approximately 25 minutes south via the C153, which means our team, our trades, and our supply chain are all calibrated to building well in this part of north-west Tasmania. We understand the climate — the Mersey Valley carries its own microclimate of moisture and frost — and we design high-performance thermal envelopes to handle it.
Why People Choose Sassafras
Rural Blocks with Genuine Space
Properties in Sassafras range from lifestyle blocks through to working agricultural holdings. It's the kind of land that allows serious gardens, small orchards, a handful of animals, or simply the privacy of not having a neighbour within earshot. The scale of property available here is simply not replicable at the same price point closer to the coast.
25 Minutes from Devonport
Devonport's full range of retail, healthcare, schools, and the Spirit of Tasmania terminal are a straightforward 25-minute drive from Sassafras. The community sits at a useful remove — rural enough to feel genuinely country, close enough that access to city amenities never requires planning ahead.
Passive Solar Opportunity
Open agricultural surrounds and the relatively flat to gently rolling character of Sassafras land create excellent passive solar opportunities. A well-designed home here — oriented north, with deep winter sun penetration and controlled summer shading — can achieve meaningful thermal comfort with modest ongoing energy costs in the cool-temperate Tasmanian climate.
Productive Agricultural Country
The Latrobe hinterland is some of north-west Tasmania's most fertile land. Living near Sassafras means proximity to working farms, market gardens, and the seasonal rhythms of agricultural production that supply the region. It is a landscape that functions, which gives the area a character distinct from lifestyle acreage that is merely large.
Heritage Latrobe Nearby
Latrobe town — a heritage precinct with significant nineteenth-century commercial streetscape and a loyal local community — sits just a short drive from Sassafras. The Mersey River foreshore, the Bell Bay Aluminium heritage precinct, and Latrobe's reputation as the platypus capital of the world give the broader area a distinctly Tasmanian identity.
Mersey River Corridor
The Mersey River forms part of Sassafras's western boundary, providing both a natural landscape feature and an important ecological corridor. River frontage and proximity add character to any property, and the riparian vegetation along the Mersey delivers a sense of scale and wildness that is rare this close to a regional centre.
What to Know About Building in Sassafras
Sassafras falls under Latrobe Council, which administers the Tasmanian Planning Scheme — Latrobe Local Provisions Schedule (commenced 10 May 2023, replacing the Latrobe Interim Planning Scheme 2013). Planning and building applications are lodged with and assessed by Latrobe Council. Here is what prospective builders need to understand:
- Rural land in Sassafras is typically zoned Rural Resource or Rural Living depending on the specific allotment. The Rural Resource zone prioritises primary production and applies minimum lot sizes and conditions for residential use — not all land in this zone can be built on. The Rural Living zone is more amenable to residential development and sets building envelopes, setbacks, and lot size minimums. Check the specific zone for any property before committing to a purchase.
- Reticulated sewerage is not available to rural properties in Sassafras. An onsite wastewater system — either an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) or conventional septic — is required. This adds $15,000–$30,000 to your project cost, and the specific allotment must be assessed for wastewater disposal suitability before you buy.
- Riparian setbacks apply to properties near the Mersey River and its tributaries. Development — including buildings, fences, earthworks, and vegetation removal — within the watercourse setback zone typically requires discretionary planning assessment. Confirm the river corridor overlays on any property via PlanBuild Tasmania's enquiry service before you purchase.
- Vegetation removal and earthworks on rural land may require planning approval depending on extent and the specific overlays. Native vegetation protection, slope instability areas, and significant tree protections can all trigger permit requirements. Site-specific due diligence before purchase is essential.
- Road access matters in rural areas. Properties on formed tracks or from rural roads may need to demonstrate safe access and appropriate construction. Latrobe Council may require road upgrades or contributions as a condition of development approval.
- Sassafras sits in a cool-temperate climate with cold winters — frosts are common from April through September, and the Mersey Valley contributes meaningful humidity and cloud. A highly insulated, airtight, north-facing passive solar home is the right response to this climate and delivers lasting comfort with minimal energy cost.
- Our Sheffield workshop is approximately 25 minutes from Sassafras via the C153. We've been building across Latrobe Council since 2009 — we know the local planning team, the trades who operate in this area, and what high-performance design looks like on a rural Tasmanian block.
A well-built home on rural land in Sassafras is a long-term asset. The combination of agricultural character, proximity to Devonport and Latrobe, and the right thermal performance for the Mersey Valley climate is a compelling proposition. We'd welcome a conversation about what's achievable on your specific site.
Davies Projects in the Region
Our portfolio spans the north and north-west of Tasmania — each project a demonstration of high-performance design built for the Tasmanian climate.
Sassafras Building FAQ
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