An incredible, untouched 1963 retro time capsule in Riverside on the market after 50 years

There’s cool, and then there’s 505 West Tamar Road, Riverside.

The groovy Tasmanian house was completed in 1963, and is a monument to a time when Gregory Peck was a heartthrob and Katharine Hepburn was the epitome of chic.

The perfectly intact home is on the market, seeking offers over $775,000, in a scenic suburb about 12 kilometres north-west of Launceston. The parents who owned this ode to retro Australia have passed on, and their children are selling.

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“It is a difficult thing for them to do, but the love that is in the home is really apparent. When I walked in the door, I could feel it,” agent Karen Magnotta of The Agency Launceston says.

Curves are a hallmark of mid-century architecture, and the property exemplifies this style. One of the three bedrooms, as well as the living, dining, and sunroom, each has a grand, rounded window facing the street and the Tamar River.

The bathroom features a crimson carpet and crescent-shaped, partial walls to separate the tiled area, which is accented by a butter-yellow bath and sink.

From the lounge room, with ornate carpet and a recessed, green ceiling panel, to the gleaming timber kitchen with curved benches, timber wall panels, built-in dressers, custom joinery, and ship motifs etched on glass sliding doors, it seems the clock stopped decades ago.

It would be fitting for Frank Sinatra to stroll through, wearing a smoking jacket, nursing a whisky.

Most mid-century properties lose at least a few elements to time, but not this home. Even the tiniest tiles in the bathroom have been preserved.  

However, an internal lift is a contemporary comfort. It connects the living room to the colossal eight-car, basement garage, which has a sitting room and an office. 

The authentic presentation has stunned prospective buyers, Magnotta says. She played jazz at the first open for inspection, to match the mood.

“There was genuine excitement,” she says. “People walked in and immediately commented on how beautifully preserved and maintained it is. You could see it on their faces – that mix of surprise and delight when they realise a home of this era still feels so refined and current. 

“Many stayed far longer than usual, taking in the details.”

She said the pristine nature of brickwork, timber and mid-century fixtures, all frozen in time, demonstrates the care the owners had for the home.

Magnotta says among the many highlights are the outlook and welcoming atmosphere.

“Every window seems to frame a view of the river, the hills, or the garden,” she says. “It feels peaceful yet sophisticated. I also love how the home balances scale and intimacy.

“It’s grand in size, yet every space feels warm and inviting. And of course, there’s that retro elegance. It’s a home with presence, but also real heart.”

Magnotta says the home has endured for six decades due to its high-quality construction.

“Homes like this weren’t just built, they were engineered with thought and artistry,” she says.

“It’s from an era when design and durability went hand-in-hand.”

She says listing a home like this is an emotional experience, because it’s so full of soul.

“It’s not just another property; it’s a piece of architectural history and family memory all in one,” she says.

Authentic retro homes are few and far between in this area.

“Once they’re held in a family for decades, they don’t often return to the market,” Magnotta says.

“It’s the kind of property that, once sold, is unlikely to reappear for a generation, and that makes it even more special to represent.”

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$630,000 - $670,000

121 Bathurst Road, Orange NSW 2800

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This home is inspired by the smooth shape and upmarket elegance of ocean liners. Find curved windows, fluted glass and ceiling roses throughout, with the modern convenience of a newer kitchen.

Auction Saturday 6th Dec 2025

1/19 Woodbine Avenue, Normanhurst NSW 2076

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The time capsule property has all the hallmarks of sleek, understated modernism, including a low-profile roof. Picture windows look out to four outdoor areas – two courtyards, a deck and an entertainment zone. The main bathroom is bathed in sun, thanks to huge skylights, and a slow-combustion fireplace warms the open-plan living and dining rooms.