Building a Sustainable home in the Australian Outback

In 2024 Anika Molesworth and her partner set out to build a family home in a remote part of New South Wales. They were looking to create, in Anika’s words, “something comfortable, a beautiful space that complemented the land, and a house that doesn’t cost the planet.” That was the mission. But after speaking with various builders, both local and from afar, and getting ideas on new house builds (mainly kit-home/modular type things) they all just felt wrong. The ideas they were presenting and the materials they would be using, went against the whole idea of sustainability.

Faced with these new-build issues, Anika’s attention turned to an abandoned homestead on her family’s property. “It was very humble. Like seriously humble. Tiny windows, small dark rooms, not an ounce of insulation. Never connected to any services. It was going to be a big task making it comfortable.” But Anika could see the potential.

A few local builders were invited over to have a look and give their ideas. The first one said “better to build a new home using refrigerator panels.” Which he happened to sell, dismissing the renovation concept as a waste of time and money. Time and again Anika bumped up with people who just could not see the vision and had no idea what she was talking about with ‘recycling, reclaiming and using natural materials’. Local suppliers – from electricians to plumbing – just tried to sell her the same cheap, imported products. When Anika spoke to a local plumbing supplier about composting toilets she was simply met with eye rolling.

This whole experience Anika found deeply frustrating. Which I can relate to. Trying to build an “eco” home myself, when nobody in the building trade is thinking deeply about sustainability it is very hard. There is a lot of greenwashing going on and “eco” claims that just don’t stack up under scrutiny. But whereas I ended up compromising in lots of areas, just to get the job done, that is not how Anika rolls.

Anika stuck to her guns. She thought “ if I do go for the cheap, easy option (e.g. an acrylic benchtop that is sold in the local hardware store) am I going to be satisfied at the end of the day living in my house, will I have created my dream forever home or not?” The answer was obviously no. So Anika put in the extra legwork, researching products, reading reviews, getting shipping quotes, speaking with suppliers about the unique challenges – like extreme heat and dryness – and then taking a gamble that the product she was purchasing and getting shipped would be as good as she hoped, despite never having seen them in person.

When it came to energy self-sufficiency Anika faced endless sniggers from people who “don’t trust” renewable energy, proclaiming “you’ll run out of power”, “you won’t be cooking Christmas dinner this year”, etc. When in fact, her 30kWh battery and 20kW solar system on the roof has worked faultlessly. Her house is fitted with compressed wall panels (Durra Panel), recycled glass benchtops (Eco Benchtops), bamboo flooring (House of Bamboo), reclaimed deck timber (Thor’s Hammer), water tanks (Bushmans), even an electric buggy (Polaris Electric Ranger).

What Anika and her partner hoped to achieve with this house was to share their story with others—especially those currently renovating or building. They wanted to encourage people to prioritise planet-friendly design and materials. Stay true to their values, and don’t let pushy salespeople make you feel silly for wanting something different. 

Along with the house Anika has spent a lot of time establishing a native garden and describes it as “so fulfilling seeing zebra finches, wrens, mulga parrots right outside our window. It makes the effort feel truly rewarding.” Thinking about creating harmony between indoors and outdoors was always part of the plan, with the garden complemented by a collection of indoor plants that enhance the mood and atmosphere of the home—breathing life into each room.

I really applaud Anika’s dogged determination. It’s hard to do a project like this in a big city where there are more resources and it’s easier to find more like minded people. But in Outback Australia there can be a higher level of conservatism and sticking to conventional ways of doing. There isn’t the luxury of different suppliers and services and those suppliers don’t get as much exposure to new ideas. So, to achieve what Anika has achieved is even more special. Her decision to renovate has resulted in a home with infinitely more character than anything she would have got with a new build. Hopefully Anika’s story will get heard by others living in remote places and inspire them to make more sustainable and ecological choices.

You can read more here: https://outbacksmarthome.weebly.com/

#Australia #ecoFriendly #Environment #Outback #OWGF #SolarPunk #sustainability #sustainableLiving

🐪 🐪 🐪

#Australie

#Dromadaires

#Outback

#Prolifération

#ProblèmeEnvironnemental

#DéplacementDesEspèces

#BiodiversitéMenacée

#IntroductionDesEspècesDéplacées

#ConséquencesEcologiques

#ColonisationBritannique

#socialmedia

https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/animaux/nature-espece-importee-invasive-australie-debordee-par-ses-dromadaires

Depuis des siècles, l'homme déplace des espèces animales pour des raisons variées.

https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/fr/periodiques/anthropozoologica/19/deplacements-d-especes-animales-par-l-homme-consequences-ecologiques-et-sanitaires

#JustWatched #FilmMastodon

#Outback (2019)

Down Under for an adventure-filled vacation, a young American couple quickly find themselves stranded in the unforgiving Australian outback.
3/5⭐️

Grampians, VIC, Australia

Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec
ISO: 100

More about me & prints
https://linktr.ee/steven.sandner

#Kangaroo #Wildlife #Australia #Sunset #Nature #Joey #Outback #Golden

#Outback (2019)
Dir. by #MikeGreen

Down Under for an adventure-filled vacation, a young American couple quickly find themselves stranded in the unforgiving Australian outback.
#VacationGoneWrong #FilmMastodon

https://youtu.be/9KHq_MaGnOo?si=WbfRgPMc6r2q2t4-

This is me, looking at the new #Subaru #Outback. 😡

Just what no one needed, for them to change one of the few non-SUVs into an SUV, when they already had 3 in their lineup. FFS.

https://www.subaru.com/2025-new-york-international-auto-show.html?SIE=ad2cbc92bbbb39906cd7fdbc6da6c5421f6842de26904c69793290b63e5986e1&delivery_id=522068251&cid=2025AprNYIASPostReveals&bid=1-B6G2-1456

Rex Ellis 1942 – 2025

After acquiring his first pack camels in 1976, Rex had a dream: to cross the Simpson Desert. He had little experience & no blueprint. But he sought the wisdom of old cameleers, pieced together a bit of knowledge and the expedition was a success.

His spirit of adventure lives on.

#Camels #RexEllis #Australia #Outback #SimpsonDesert

Receita de Flor de Cebola Empanada OutBack, aprenda como fazer a cebola do Outback que é uma das receitas mais apreciadas do mundo, por isso, vale a pena aprender a fazer.
#receita #outback #cebola
https://receitas-brasileiras.com/flor-de-cebola-empanada-outback/

#Outback #Subaru Νέο Subaru Outback – Πιο πρακτικό από ποτέ, με hi-tech καμπίνα και την καλύτερη τετρακίνηση της αγοράς https://www.zougla.gr/automoto/automoto-news/neo-subaru-outback-pio-praktiko-apo-pote-me-hi-tech-kabina-kai-tin-kalyteri-tetrakinisi-tis-agoras/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Day ten cont 🚨👮‍♂️🧑‍⚖️

“We have hit a tipping point where the civil rights of an #individual need to be put aside for the #CivilRights of a #community. When a community doesn’t feel #safe, you have to act and you have to make sure there’s a #deterrent and a #consequence.

In my home state again [#Queensland], I would encourage every state to do this, we’re going back to #outback camps where we are rebuilding these young people with a life #skill. Not putting them behind barbed wire but sending them to remote places, giving them a skill and #purpose in life.” — David Littleproud

The National leadership is roaring to the press.

A reminder, my daddy was a State National MP and Minister. I’m from Queensland and our ideas need to be heard across the nation.

#LNP / #Liberal / #Littleproud / #rights / #Youth / #Justice <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/apr/08/australia-election-2025-live-election-2025-live-coalition-labor-federal-peter-dutton-anthony-albanese-share-markets-economy-mental-health-prepare-debate-ntwnfb?page=with%3Ablock-67f4ab468f08e0f1eb0325d5#block-67f4ab468f08e0f1eb0325d5>

My Country
– Dorothea Mackellar

‘…Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,

For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold –

Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.’

#Outback #Floods #Poetry #DorotheaMackellar #Australia

Sturzregen hat das trockene Channel Country in #Australien in ein Binnenmeer verwandelt.

In manchen Orten fiel der #Niederschlag von zwei Jahren in wenigen Tagen. Die Wassermassen fließen nun südwärts. Für #Farmer bedeutet das massive #Viehverluste. Zugleich entsteht ein seltenes Naturphänomen: ein temporäres Binnenmeer mit Millionen von #Wasservögeln und einzigartiger #Tierwelt.

https://theconversation.com/torrential-rains-created-devastating-inland-seas-in-outback-queensland-soon-they-will-fill-kati-thanda-lake-eyre-253529

#Überschwemmung #Queensland #Outback #Extremwetter #Klimawandel #Biodiversität #Australien

Australien: Fläche in der Größe Frankreichs überflutet

In dem von Viehzucht geprägten #Outback des australischen Bundesstaates #Queensland haben Wassermassen eine Fläche von der Größe Frankreichs überflutet.
Überflutetes Land in #Australien
Nach ungewöhnlich heftigen Regenfällen in der vergangenen Woche waren Flüsse in dem üblicherweise trockenen östlichen Bundesstaat über die Ufer getreten. Die Überschwemmungen erstreckten sich über eine Fläche von etwa 500.000 Quadratkilometern.

https://orf.at/stories/3389388/

#Extremwetter

Large areas of #Australia's #Outback now resemble an inland sea after unprecedented #flood drowns #Queensland's interior with communities underwater, millions of #livestock at risk: #news #climate #weather #food #travel https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/record-outback-flood-western-queensland-evacuate-residents/105102092

Neat car mode, at least. #transformers #thrilling30 #nightbeat #outback #toyphotography #photography #autobot #targetmaster #diorama #crafting

A legendary team up. #transformers #thrilling30 #nightbeat #outback #toyphotography #photography #autobot #targetmaster #diorama #crafting

Kite, not caught in a tree (Milvus migrans, Manbulloo vicinity, HOT morning light) #photography #landscape #NorthernTerritory #DrySeason #birds #outback #nature #trees #MarchIntoLandscapes #Heat #PhotographersUnited #EastCoastKin