Wayne Riethoff has sold a five-bedroom English country cottage in Westbury, Tasmania for $700,000 after a 350-day private treaty campaign that found the perfect buyer for a niche property.
Wayne Riethoff knew from day one that 10 Quamby Street in Westbury would take the right buyer, not the fastest one. The five-bedroom English country cottage on 1,840 square metres had everything a certain type of buyer would love — but finding that buyer meant committing to a campaign that would stretch across 350 days.
“We always knew that it was going to take the right buyer — it’s quite a niche property and Westbury is quite a small township community,” Wayne says.
“We had a lot of viewings, a lot of interest in the property, but it really did just take that one buyer that fell so completely in love with the property.”
The niche property that needed the right match
The 1950s cottage had all the elements that make a property hard to categorise but impossible to forget. Split over two levels with an English country cottage feel, established gardens, and generous land in a tightly held community, it wasn’t a property you could easily comp against typical suburban housing stock.
“It really had an English country cottage feel to it with beautiful gardens,” Wayne says. “Westbury itself is a very tightly held community — it’s about a 20-minute drive out of Launceston.”
The property attracted consistent viewing numbers, but Wayne and his vendor weren’t chasing any offer. They were waiting for the buyer who would see what they saw.
The evolving social campaign
Over nearly a year on market, Wayne kept the campaign fresh by constantly adjusting the messaging and creating short videos that showcased different angles of the property.
“We had a pretty big social campaign, which we kept changing up regularly,” he says. “Doing lots and lots of short videos featuring the garden, featuring some of the more unique features of the property.”
Viewers consistently commented on the location, the quietness, the feel of the property, the gardens, the outlook, and the township itself. The feedback confirmed Wayne’s instinct — this was a lifestyle purchase, not a transaction.
The buyer who fell in love with the gardens
The successful buyer came from Devonport on Tasmania’s northwest coast, drawn by the same gardens that had anchored Wayne’s campaign from the start.
“The gardens were a really big drawcard for them,” Wayne says. “They loved gardening so it really appealed.”
Five offers came through during the 350-day campaign, but this one resonated with the vendor on multiple levels.
“This was just the one that really resonated with the vendor, not only on price but also on how they fell in love with the property,” Wayne says.
What it means for Westbury sellers
Wayne’s campaign proved that buyers are actively seeking entry to Westbury’s tightly held market, across a range of property types and sizes.
“There are lots of buyers looking to come into the tightly held community of Westbury and looking for anything from smaller properties to properties similar in size to 10 Quamby Street,” he says. “All different types of buyers — they’re definitely out there and ready to go.”
But the real lesson from this sale isn’t about market conditions. It’s about the relationship that underpinned the entire year-long process.
“It really was a deeply personal campaign built on a strong and genuine relationship with the vendor,” Wayne says.
“Working with her and for her was paramount and it became a highlight of the whole process.”
Where Westbury sits
Westbury sits about 20 minutes from Launceston in Tasmania’s Meander Valley, a tightly held historic township with a colonial village character. The 1,840-square-metre property sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in a spacious residential pocket that reflects the town’s semi-rural appeal.
About the Agent
Wayne Riethoff works alongside Bec as a real estate team at The Agency Northern Tasmania, with over 29 years of combined experience. Known for honest advice, a calm approach, and genuine community connections, they focus on making the property process simple, personal, and enjoyable while striving for outstanding results. Visit Wayne’s website for more information or call Wayne on 0477881449