Balthayock Farm

Gunaikurnai,
Yarragon South,
VIC
This home will be open for in-person tours on the 17th May 2026

About this home

Off grid homes and studio with beautiful views.

Built using passive solar design principles which promote natural airflow and thermal mass, keeping our home naturally warm in winter and cool in summer. We have used and recycled and reused materials including doors, floorboards and various timber products. Products were chosen to create a healthy living environment, zero to low VOC paints and finishes along with zero-E cabinetry. No carpets have been used to reduce the build up of dust.

We are establishing a edible garden and working on a large scale re-vegetation plan to create habitat and reduce erosion. This will include many native waterwise plants local to the area.

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
Wanting to leave my little part of the world in a better state than I found it.
Off grid batteries and EV charging
Continuing to build our garden with more food plants and permaculture principles.
Back to 2026 Homes
Type: Standalone house/townhouse
Project: New build
Architect: Storybook
Builder: Owner builder
Size: 200m²
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2

Sustainability Features

Building Materials & Envelope

High-performance insulation
Double or triple-glazed windows
Recycled or reused materials
Other

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

Passive heating/cooling (north-facing glazing, cross ventilation, thermal mass, shading, etc.)
Ceiling fans
Heat pump (reverse-cycle) heating/cooling
Heat pump-powered hydronic heating

Energy and Appliances

Rooftop solar PV
Battery storage
Dedicated wall-mounted EV charging
Energy monitoring/smart home systems
Efficient lighting (LED, daylighting, solar skylights)
Solar thermal hot water
Electric cooktop - induction/ceramic

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks
Greywater system

Landscape & Biodiversity

Native garden
Edible garden
Wildlife-supporting habitat

Climate Resilience

Bushfire

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

Design for flexible use
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