Camping and chopping at Semaphore Farm at Port Arthur

At the highest point of Semaphore Farm at Port Arthur - approximately 200 metres above sea level - is a stunning view of nearby landmarks, including Tasman Island, Cape Pillar, and Arthur's Peak.

Looking at it feels like staring at a professional shot by a landscape photographer or a vivid and detailed painting.

Malcolm Larner said that in the decades before plantation trees blocked sightlines on his family farm, there was a view of Tunah Plains and other locations just north of the current awe-inspiring landscape that is clearly visible.

While beautiful, stunning views are secondary to the primary purpose of the 161ha Semaphore Farm – the majority of which is covered by plantations.

At the base of the property - down at sea level - Malcolm’s mother, Mariam, runs a campsite that is filled with tents and caravans when the weather gets warm enough during a few months of the year.

Semaphore Farm was named Tasmania’s best accommodation site by booking provider HipCamp last year.

And in September, Malcolm was named tree grower of the year at the Tasmanian Timber Awards – an honour that his parents received more than two decades ago.

But the farm's focus was not always on trees and tourism alone.

“Dad used to run cattle,” Malcolm said.

“Then, when we decided to go on a holiday quite a few years back, he sold all the cattle and ended up just cutting grass hay that he sold to horse owners.

“He said he made more money out of hay in one year than he did in cattle for 30 years.”

Malcolm said that while there are a few cows and sheep on the property for personal use, they cut around 1000 bales of hay each year.

Since 2004, Semaphore Farm has had a private forest practices plan in place.

“Dad bought the farm for the trees in the 70s.

“He knew the value of forests.”

The farm is split into five tree coops, four of which were previously logged by Gunns before the Larners decided to go it alone.

Malcolm said his family was the third group to log the land at Semaphore Farm.

“The convicts logged it in the 1830s, and then free settlers came in and kept logging until 1939.

“All the bigger trees here date back to then.”

In 1967, a bushfire occurred on the site.

“A lot of the smaller trees from then have grown up just as tall, but they are not as big.

“Many of them have died and are used for firewood.

“It’s just survival of the fittest with trees – the dominant trees take over.”

Since the Larner’s started their private forestry journey more than 50 years ago, Malcolm said that more Tasmanian farmers are growing trees on their properties.

“It’s a long-term commitment and definitely generational.

“A lot of the trees that I’ve planted, and will plant, I won’t see the benefit of, but future generations will.
“It’s a renewable resource, it just takes longer to grow.”

Malcolm spent around $300,000 to establish 75ha of plantation, saying that it was “not a cheap exercise”.

“But depending on the markets at the time, I should get close to double or triple that money back in the long-term.”

In August, the Liberals backtracked on plans to establish 39,000ha of native Tasmanian forest in an effort to shore up support from the crossbench to form government in the aftermath of the state election – which ultimately proved successful.

“We got some of the best timbers in the world, but they’ve all been locked up – it just doesn’t make sense,” Malcolm said.

“That’s why private forestry is going to play a role.

“But it’s not the answer to everything - it’s part of it.

“Private plantations will never replace native, you’ve got to use both.”

The Larners' inspiration to incorporate camping into Semaphore Farm came from Malcolm’s dissatisfaction with the cramped nature of other accommodation sites across Tasmania.

“One year, I said to some of our family friends ‘we’ve got so land, let’s camp down here,” he said.

“We did that one Easter and the kids had an absolute ball.”

Part of Semaphore Farm was opened to the public for camping in 2019, which Malcolm said had attracted positive reviews from guests.

“They love the atmosphere and how quiet it is.

“Mum comes down and does a talk nearly every day during peak season in the afternoon to explain to guests the history of the property and the area.”

Malcolm said he and his parents had worked hard to turn Sempahore Farm into what it was today.

“We’ve been continually improving the property, which is a never-ending job.

“I spoke to my son recently, who is in his mid-30s now, and he said he’d love to come down and take over the farm eventually.

“I’m never going to sell the property.

“This could never be replaced.”