In 2002, an Australian couple bought a barren 26-hectare island; 17 years later, they moved in after clearing weeds and hauling 38 truckloads of materials

• Ram Island is situated in southeast Tasmania’s Little Swanport estuary.
• Image Credit: PeterswaldThe 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.