Hi all,
We are a family who decided to leave the big smoke of Melbourne last year and relocate to Ballarat in the hope of achieving a better "work life balance".
We were tired and stressed and always too busy to spend quality time together.
So hoping for a "tree change" we have purchased 5 acres of land about 8 kms West of Ballarat in a place called Smythes Creek and are now looking to created a environmentally friendly and sustainable family home and recording studio.
We have loved the idea of straw bale construction since we stayed in a straw bale studio in Margaret River back in 2000. The property we stayed in is owned by Shelley Cullen - one of the Cullen clan. Shelley is also married to that brilliant winemaker Michael Peterkin of Pierro wines.
You can find images of the property in her book titled "Margaret River Style" ISBN 1863682856 . The photo above is of the book's cover.
Why straw?
Warm, inviting surroudings, great insulating and acoustic properties, apparently also easy for owner builders ... this remains to be seen.
There will be more on straw down the track.
The house concept
We have owned the land for just over six months and are almost satisfied with our plans. At one stage they kept on changing weekly. Do we go for a traditional country homestead look or something contemporary? Single or double storey? Pods or Split level? We have pages and pages of drawings ...
Karl, my husband wanted something large. I felt it would be a waste as there are only three of us who would be living there full time. Sure we have lots of family and friend's visiting from Melbourne but I am sure we could find space for them somewhere - or we could always pitch a tent!
We had grand designs but the reality of being owner builders and on a budget has meant we needed to reign these in. As such we have settled on something mid size with a self contained recording studio attached to the garage.
We have spent months researching and re-researching design ideas. Everything from septics/watertanks/on or off-grid solar/compost loo's / heat pumps and solar or geothermal heating to name but a few.
Main aim is for correct solar orientation and good design to achieve thermal efficiency and a long term healthy house. Karl read somewhere that we should allow for our grand ideas to be incorporated at design stage in the hope they can be acted upon down the track when and if budget allows.
At least we have similar taste when it comes to most things. I just wish I could convince him against glass bottle wall inserts. We stayed at Mirra Mirra last year and he became enamoured of the walls in the bathroom of the "Tanglewood" cottage.
Maybe he can use these in the music studio ...
You must check out their website - www.miramira.com.au
A bit about the block
The land is an undulating L shaped block with about a dozen really old gum trees scattered on it. The trees are what initially drew us to it. They have huge trunks and gorgeous spreading canopies. They seem like they have been on the land forever and are a welcome sight every time we go for a drive there.
Although we are not presently living on the block we have spent many summer afternoons sitting in the shade of these beautiful old trees while our daughter swam in the dam on the property.
Aim of this blog
Firstly, we hope that this blog will get keep our friends and family up to date with our progress.
Secondly, we want this to be a "meeting point" for others who are building similar properties. We want to be able to share ideas and expriences and links to resources. Now I just need to learn how to update the site!
We are new to blogging so will see how this site works for us. I had better get going now as I need to finish some drawings ... and I am just rambling ...
