Originally from Adelaide, Andrew and Susanne Puccetti moved to Tasmania in 2016, to take on the challenge of restoring one of the region’s most significant buildings – the Carrick Mill. “It was built in 1846 by using convict labour,” Andrew says, “for a man named William Bryan who was one of the big landowners in the district.” The building operated as a flour mill and played a crucial role in the area’s early economy. “The rumour is that it supported Sydney through one of their drought years and kept the colony of New South Wales alive.”
After a flood in 1929, the mill sat empty for fifty years. Today, it houses the Puccettis’ home and business. “We built our home into the two upper floors and the ground floor is our shop,” Andrew explains. “No traffic to get to work,” he laughs.
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Transforming the four storey structure into a functional residence and antique store was no small feat. “There were a lot of cosmetic things that needed doing,” he says. Possums had damaged parts of the building and the former cellar had been filled in with concrete by previous owners.
Renovations continued this year with a complete repaint of the exterior. “Early this year I thought, this is the year we’re going outside,” Andrew says. “It took me four months, one month each side.” He chose a rust colour for the trim to reflect the building’s industrial past. “It looks like the Mill should have looked.”
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Inside, the shop offers a remarkable variety of items. “We sell anything except nuclear waste,” Andrew jokes. “Just about every customer who comes through the door is absolutely awestruck by the variety and depth of what we sell.”
The Puccettis’ love for history is evident in their inventory. “I think we love the history of all the different things that we see,” Susanne says. Among their favourites are paper relics. “Newspaper from 1872 would have interesting bits of history in it,” says Andrew. “My favourite is old postcards from the early 20th century.” These often feature stamps and brief personal notes, offering a small but enlightening glimpse into the past.
Much of the stock comes from decades of collecting. “We’ve been collecting for 30 years,” Andrew reminisces. They source items from auctions, customers and their own travels. The shop is bursting at the seams with a variety of items collected.
While the physical shop is open only three days a week (Friday to Sunday 11am to 5pm), they operate a thriving online business through Etsy. “We ship goods all over the world from our little hamlet here in Tasmania,” Andrew says. The online arm keeps them busy through the rest of the week.
The couple has noticed changes in their customer base. “Before the pandemic, it was about 50 percent local, 30 percent interstate and 20 percent international,” Andrew said. “Now it’s about 60 to 70 percent local.” Many visitors stop simply because the building catches their eye.
Asked about future plans, Andrew is resolute. “Hopefully just to maintain business for as long as we possibly can. I love what I do. So why would you want to stop?” he says.
Carrick itself is growing, but the Puccettis feel that the charm remains. “There’s so much space here it’s a rural area, and yet you’re so close to the city,” Andrew says fondly. “It’s really the perfect place to reside.”
