Cedar Ridge A 15 year old house sited on a 40ha mixed farm, aiming to operate as self sustainably as possible in food and energy production. Approximately 10 ha of cleared land supporting vegetable gardens, fruit & nut trees, and vineyard (all organic). Home meat supply via free-range poultry and small numbers of sheep and cattle, in conjunction with three dams stocked with native fish. Native forest vegetation on remainder of property.
New or Retro: Purchased in neglected state 7 years ago as an unfinished house/vineyard/grazing project. House built to previous owner’s design. Completed and extensions added by current owners.
Climate Zone: Warm Temperate
Unique Sustainable Elements featured in this home
Water Harvesting Systems Not connected to the mains. The house and all shed roofs connect to rain water tanks (75,000ltrs) which pump to a holding tank that gravity-feeds back to the house. The vineyard irrigation and garden water comes from a dam via gravity from a holding tank filled by12v solar pump. Standard septic system with absorption trenches.
External Walls Vertical “roundback” studs of varying width, joined with 50mm wide gal. hoop iron strips recessed into studs. Natural weathered finish.
Internal Walls Reverse side (flat) of external stud cladding for perimeter. Gyprock internal walls to bedrooms under attic/storage area. Timber lined cathedral ceiling to living area.
Roof Zincalume (i.e. silver) over insulation blanket. 22.5 .degree
Floor Suspended floor on brick piers. Brush box T&G boards (unsealed) in living/kitchen areas. Painted or sealed particle board in bedrooms. No carpets.
Window Treatments Standard aluminium sliding doors to decks. Full-length windows. No curtains.
Solar or Wind Power Generation 2kW grid connected BP solar system located on shed adjacent to house. Provision for future doubling of capacity when economically viable.
Heating & Cooling Heated by centrally located slow combustion wood burner backed by supporting brick pillar for overnight heat dissipation. Cooling: cross-ventilation at roof peak level via gable windows.
Water Heating Solar hot water service with off-peak electric booster if needed.
Other Our aim is to limit our “consumerism” to the minimum which is comfortably possible. To this end, most of the appliances, furniture inside and outside the house, and farm structures have been "pre-owned" or made from recycled materials. We work on the everything-can-be-used-for-something principle. Animal manures and compost only are used for fertilizing gardens and orchard. Chickens are bred for dual meat & egg production. Home-made incubator used for year-round hatching. Preservative-free wine produced on site and cellared in 1700-bottle self-built underground storage system.
Directions
Head towards Lansdowne from the Taree airport roundabout.
10km further on (at Melinga), turn LEFT into Upper Lansdowne Road. (Just before you get to this intersection you’ll see a “children crossing road” warning sign).
After 14 km you come to a “Y” intersection with Mt Coxcombe Rd (gravel). Stay on the tar (i.e. bear RIGHT) and go through Upper Lansdowne village (past the school and community hall).
Just after you cross the concrete bridge in the village, the road turns to gravel.
A couple of hundred metres further on, turn RIGHT into Muddy Lane.
Go to the end of Muddy Lane and turn LEFT into Hogans Road.
Number 478 is just over the crest, on the right hand side.
Number 451 is 800 metres further on on the right just after a red milk churn >
(August 2009) (
