Wombat Hill Cottage

Dja Dja Wurrung Country,
Daylesford,
VIC
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About this home

A contemporary rebuild of an old, damp leaky cottage whose footings had long since rotted away.

Sustainability features of the home include:
A huge solar array of 18.04kw with 48.5kWh battery storage -fantastic in an area that experiences intermittent power outages and bushfire threats.

A stainless steel rainwater tank to run the house and/or gardens.
Insulation 140mm stud wall with R4 insulation, foam glass underslab insulation and thermal mass provided by insulated concrete and internal chimney
Natural, Hardwood, timber weatherboards were used as an alternative to painted weatherboards.

The designer/builder and homeowner worked collaboratively to slightly enlarge the footprint of the cottage and open up internal spaces.
Solar passive design was considered within the constraints of the established garden.

Modern double glazed, aluminium windows and french doors were used thoughtfully to let in the suns warmth in winter as well as to maximise the enchanting views of the garden from inside the house. A rear pergola will support a deciduous climber that will provide alternating shade and sunlight across the summer and winter seasons.

The redesign added two ensuite bathrooms off the front two bedrooms providing privacy and versatility for a home often used by multi-generations. A smaller third bedroom, mostly used as a study, creates a flexible work from home space/ quiet private space whilst also offering a third bedroom when required.
A mudroom/laundry/bathroom in the rear communal area also provides convenient access from the garden/living areas whilst entertaining or for cleaning up after productive days gardening.

Q & A

What motivated you to build or retrofit sustainably?
Comfort, reduced running costs, resilience, climate concerns, future proofing.
Replacing the roof leaks, rot and rising damp with modern construction methods, including above average concrete slab insulation, wall & roof insulation.
Type: Standalone house/townhouse
Project: New build
Designer: Quentin Irvine
Builder: Inquire Invent Pty Ltd
Size: 140m2m²
Energy Rating: 7.4
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3

Sustainability Features

Building Materials & Envelope

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

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

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

Energy and Appliances

Rooftop solar PV
Battery storage
Energy monitoring/smart home systems
Efficient lighting (LED, daylighting, solar skylights)
Heat pump hot water
Electric cooktop - induction/ceramic

Water & Waste Systems

Water-efficient fixtures
Rainwater tanks

Landscape & Biodiversity

Climate Resilience

Flood
Bushfire
Heatwave

Accessible & Flexible Design Features

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