Tasmania was supposed to be just for a few months for Samuel Dundas and Bec Jones, but today they are Launceston home owners with their very own young Tasmanian.
When Bec Jones was invited to join Tas Dance from Sydney for a contemporary dance role, she never anticipated the invitation would bring a new island life. Partner and celebrated opera singer Samuel Dundas also never imagined calling Tasmania home. Both lived colourful international lives; dancing and singing across the likes of Holland, Scotland, Hong Kong, Finland, Germany, Asia and the UK. They met while working on a show for Opera Australia where Bec was a dancer and Samuel was a singer.
“We both had been in Sydney a while and tiring of the rat race,” says Samuel. “We chose Tasmania for the lifestyle. When we bought our Launceston home in 2016 we wanted a base to have all our things, but now Tasmania is the place we’re raising our family.”
While Bec was accustomed to stages of Holland and Finland and Samuel to the Sydney Opera House spotlight, the couple have been pleasantly surprised by the depth of culture, culinary offerings, and connectivity across the artistic community in Tasmania.
“We’ve been so impressed with how multi-diverse the arts scene is here,” says Bec. “I’ve done quite a bit with Junction Arts Festival and what they’ve achieved for a community-based event is amazing; connecting food, wine, culture, live performance art and activities for families. The first show I produced, Round About, at Princess Square around the fountain drew people from all walks of life. It’s what Tassie does really well – showcasing the island in a neat little package. Seeing the smallest wine producers alongside the biggest, and food cooked over fire by northern Tassie’s best chefs – it’s so great to be a part of.”
As professional artists, Samuel and Bec have spent their careers filling contract gaps with hospitality work and casual positions. Upon moving to Tasmania, both knew very little about wine but were eager to learn more about the industry. Despite their lack of formal qualifications, prior to maternity leave Bec managed the Tamar Ridge Cellar Door and Samuel currently heads up the cellar door at Delamere Vineyard.
“That’s the beauty of Tasmania. If you’re interested and interesting, it’s not like Sydney where you need a piece of paper to get the job. It’s about being curious and keen to learn. And in a cellar door it’s just as much about conversation as it is about wine. We both went on to study wine and spirit appreciation courses and formalise our knowledge but it was by osmosis we both fell into the industry. For me, it was an extraordinary tasting that led to chats with the winemaker and next thing I had a job.”
Typically, Samuel spends about six months of the year away performing. This makes it difficult to secure full time, consistent work. He recently returned from a role with The Adelaide Symphony and has accepted a number of roles in 2022 including work with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Festival of Voices.
“Pursuing a creative life comes with a lot of personal turmoil and challenge so when you find those allies that allow you to pursue it, you really appreciate them,” explains Samuel. “I really enjoy the wine industry and can see now what a significant role it plays in Tasmania. Particularly with climate change, the notoriety of our wines on the world stage will only become greater. To contribute to this in some small way is very rewarding.”
When the couple first moved and Bec was busy working full time with Tas Dance, Samuel would take himself off in their little Holden Barina on adventures. He’d hit the mountains, the highland fishing lakes, the coast, and more than once the petite car became bogged.
the Gorges and bush reserves around greater Launceston.
“We’ve since bought a Tasmanian-friendly car for our family adventures,” laughs Samuel. “That’s what we love about Launceston; in about ten minutes you can be in nature whether that’s Notley Fern Gorge or the inner-city gorge. We really liked the feel of Launceston and chose it because we didn’t want to live in another bustling CBD. We enjoy going to Hobart for weekends but we equally love Launceston where regularly we’ll get a park right out the front of our favourite café and enjoy fresh produce from the Harvest Market.”
After ten years as a professional dancer, Bec has since retired and moved into various event production roles. She has been a valuable contributor to Junction as well as Dark Mofo and Ten Days On The Island. She also enjoys the way tourism merges with the arts and opportunities that have organically presented within the wine industry.
“You don’t necessarily need to aspire to be a wine maker to forge a career in the industry,” says Bec, “and there are so many opportunities for the arts and wine to meet. Even just going to the tourism conference and seeing 500 people with so many creatives and artists amongst them was inspiring. I feel like we’ve discovered this life that so many in Sydney and Melbourne want – like our own little secret.”
Samuel and Bec have found friendships come easily in Tasmania, too. In the first two weeks, they were invited to a local’s shack in Coles Bay who have some become some of the couple’s best friends. “People are so friendly,” laughs Bec. “When we first moved someone said good morning and asked how we were on a walk in the gorge. I asked Samuel if he knew them. He had no idea who they were – just friendly locals. It took some getting used to but what a wonderful community to live in.”
Are you interested in making a move? Make it Tasmania.