Create your tour

Strawbale house by the river

Maddingley,
VIC
This home will be open for in-person tours on the 17th May 2026
Front-view-2-of-house
br2
garden-view
Bedroom-1
Dining-area
Dining-Kitchen
Conservatory-2

About this home

All external walls strawbale & some internal walls also strawbale. Quality superior insulation in roof, no Aircon required. All perimeter fencing is made of skinny tanks covered by geranium creepers holding 102000 litres. Roof design so no direct sunlight on windows in summer , with direct winter sunshine on windows.

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
Climate
Strawbale construction provides fantastic climate control, significant saving in electricity as no air con required and winter heating bill smaller than otherwise required
None it meets all of our needs
Budget not the issue, cant justify solar as very large gum trees on external boundary provides too much shade. This home still has some existing gas appliances, with a planned transition to electric as those appliances reach the end of their working life.
Back to 2026 Homes
Type: Standalone house/townhouse
Project: Gradual upgrades over time
Architect: Helen Bernard
Builder: Owner/builder
Size: 265m²
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2

Sustainability Features

Building Materials & Envelope

Draught-proofing/air sealing
High-performance insulation
Double or triple-glazed windows
Sustainable or low-impact materials
Recycled or reused materials

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

Passive heating/cooling (north-facing glazing, cross ventilation, thermal mass, shading, etc.)

Energy and Appliances

Efficient lighting (LED, daylighting, solar skylights)

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks

Landscape & Biodiversity

Native garden
Edible garden
Beehives

Climate Resilience

Flood
Bushfire
Heatwave

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

Design for multigenerational living or dual occupancy
Universal design for accessibility
Share this home:

Related Homes

Home tours delivered to your inbox

Step inside sustainable homes across Australia and get practical ideas you can use in your own