A Tasmanian couple have returned half of their east coast property to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, which is hailing the move as the first private land return in the state.

Key points: The couple hopes their decision will inspire other private landholders to the same

The couple hopes their decision will inspire other private landholders to the same The Aboriginal community's reaction to the land return was "pure elation"

The Aboriginal community's reaction to the land return was "pure elation" The returned land will be co-managed

Keen to protect the land for future generations and bring communities together, Jane and Tom Teniswood are gifting half of their 220-hectare property at Little Swanport.

Mrs Teniswood said the decision to return the land to its rightful owners was made over a "glass of bubbles" one night on their verandah.

"Over the years we've walked that land with our many Aboriginal friends and heard of their powerful affinity and knowledge of the land … and then one day we thought 'let's gift it to the Aboriginal community'," Mrs Teniswood said.

The couple said they wanted their Aboriginal friends to enjoy the property. ( Supplied: Windsong )

Mrs Teniswood said the land was considered sacred and had a profound healing effect on generations who had visited the property.

"This land embodies all that Tom and I believe in, and we wanted our Aboriginal friends to be part of that," she said.

"Reconciliation is great but it's so much talk, so many documents and no action. This is just a symbol of action."

"This land will relink us all, it's already relinking us."

'Pure elation' for Aboriginal Land Council

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (TALC) manager, Graeme Gardner, said the Teniswoods' decision was an act of profound generosity and genuine reconciliation that should not be underestimated.

"It's a very emotive and celebratory feeling among the community — it's difficult to describe," he said.

"It's a reminder that there are good-hearted, well-intentioned people who are keen to help us reconnect with the land."

Ancient stone tools used to prepare food have been found in the area, believed to have been inhabited by the Aboriginal tribe local to the area, the Luntaytamiriliyuyna people, up to 60,000 years ago.

"There would have been food, water sources and shelter so it would have been a very comfortable place for Aboriginal people to live, travel through and trade with others," he said.

Prominent Aboriginal leader Mannalargenna is said to have visited the property at Little Swanport. ( Supplied: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery )

It is understood the site was also visited by notable Tasmanian Aboriginal figures such as Mannalargenna and Fanny Cochrane-Smith.

The last Aboriginal land return occurred 14 years ago in 2005 on Cape Barren and Clarke Islands.

Mr Gardner said he hoped more people were waking up to the realisation that First Nations people had land taken from them without their consent.

"In most cases we have to pretty much beg the government for it and justify ourselves as to why we want that land," he said.

"But in this case it's pure elation when the family came to us and said we want to do something. They were the drivers, not us."

"It's something so positive and so genuine that hasn't occurred over many years, probably since 1995 when the first land return was held in Hobart."

Aboriginals say the return is a reminder there are people who want to help them reconnect with the land. ( Supplied: Wind Song )

Co-caring for the land

A team of botanists and zoologists from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) surveyed the land last year and discovered 20 new species of plants and insects and several ancient Oyster Bay pine trees.

Ancient stone tools have been found on Tom and Jane Teniswood's land. ( Supplied: Wind Song )

Gintaras Kantvilas was part of TMAG's research expedition and said the group was pleasantly surprised by the discoveries.

"This property turned out to be a really significant little corner of Tasmania, rich with species that had never been recorded in Tasmania before," he said.

A management plan will be developed with the Aboriginal community to ensure the value of the land is understood in its entirety and to allow native vegetation to be restored.

"We'll do it in a way that's healing that country and includes people who want to understand why we do things with the country and how we do it," Mr Gardener said.

"This land is different to other places; it sparks spiritual connections like no other so we want it to be where people can understand the depth of the relationship we have with the land and [have the chance] to develop their own."

Until then, Mr Gardner said he hoped others would look at this moment in Tasmania's history and learn from it.

"When we talk about private land being returned in this manner we'll say 'well the Teniswoods were the first'," he said.

Mrs Teniswood said the decision had prompted "amazing conversations" with other landholders who were now considering the future of their properties and ways to protect it.

The farming property features a bed and breakfast, several walking tracks and peace poles inscribed with languages from across the globe.

A new pole with the phrase "may peace prevail on Earth" written in palawa kani, the revived Tasmanian Aboriginal language, will be erected on the property in May to mark the historic moment.