Open Field Co-Living - Talk & Tour of Hempcrete Passive House & Co-Living Homestead in Castlemaine

As part of the National Sustainable Living Festival, we welcome you for a talk and tour at our hempcrete passive house and homestead specifically designed for co-living in Castlemaine, Victoria.

When it comes to 'Think Global, Act Local', we reckon your home is as local as you can get. We believe that building energy-efficient, collaborative housing using carbon neutral materials, is one of the most resource efficient ways that we can simultaneously tackle both the climate crisis and housing crisis, as well as improve our collective wellbeing and mental health.

The warm, energy-efficient and light-filled home will support several families and individuals to live together under its one large roof. The land is 10 acres and together with the home intends to support a climate-resilient homesteading lifestyle. Water and human waste systems will be managed off-grid, and electricity will be provided by solar and batteries and connected back into the grid to support the broader community’s Net Zero transition. Orchards, animals, market gardens, and aquaculture will be cultivated in concert with soil regeneration and biodiversity.

Providing both stable, long-term housing and a permaculture homestead, Open Field Co-Living offers residents the opportunity to become more self-sufficient and resilient, as we meet our needs for food, water, practical support and social connection closer to home.

During our tour, we will talk through our reasoning through each part of the design, development and implementation of the project. We'll talk you through our choices of various sustainable materials and building techniques, as well as our thoughtful consideration of how the homestead may function from a social and community perspective, like decision-making processes, communication styles, and systems for managing household tasks.

We'll share in more detail how we've designed for an enjoyable and functional co-living experience through thoughtful additions like high quality acoustic separation and insulation, private and public areas, all ability access, cleverly designed shared bathrooms, and interaction with the landscape and gardens.

Hope to see you there.

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This is a live on-site tour at our home in Castlemaine, VIC.

The specific address will be provided to you with your ticket purchase.

Please note that the site is still under construction and you enter at own risk. Wheelchair access is available.

Children can attend for FREE but must be supervised at all times.

Attendance is free for those who volunteered as part of the hempcrete working bee (thankyou!) - just select the volunteer ticket.

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Event partner of the National Sustainable Living Festival 2025

This event will be held on the unceded lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung. We pay our deepest respects to the traditional custodians past, present and emerging.