21/01/2026
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๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ - ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐ค๐๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐, ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐
If youโve been searching for a place where sustainability and community is built into the bones of the home, here it is. This house was designed from day one to support real shared living: privacy where you need it, connection over land and food, and infrastructure robust enough for climate instability and long-term cooperation.
This is a rare opportunity for a co-housing or co-living group of up to 15 people ready to step straight into a functioning, well-thought-out communal space on rich alluvial soils near Castlemaine.
๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐
8-10 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
10.3 acres (4.2 ha)
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ / ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐
Originally designed as a co-living project, this house was intentionally created to support seamless shared living
Commercial style kitchen and huge dining living space for central gathering
Multiple wings are pre-plumbed for future kitchenette or bathroom conversion โ so itโs ready to adapt for private and communal zones.
Acoustic design: sound-isolated rooms, strawboard ceilings, and clever ventilation mean thereโs a good balance of privacy + togetherness.
Lockers at the entrance for personal items = smart storage for shared life.
๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ง
H**pcrete walls + high-grade insulation give real thermal mass and passive climate control.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) ensures constant fresh, filtered air.
NatHERS rating: 8.2 stars (effectively 9.1 considering Airtightness/MHRV) โ placing it among the most energy-efficient homes in the country.
Designed to use only ~15% of the energy of a typical home.
Non-toxic finishes: reclaimed timber, low-VOC paints, natural materials = a healthy living environment.
๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฒ & ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐
Huge water infrastructure: 30 million-litre dam, 200,000 L of rainwater storage.
Biological septic system that irrigates an orchard of ~60 fruit + nut trees.
3-phase power to the shed (15-amp provision) โ supports communal operations, retreat-style facilities, or small business.
Massive shed (11.8 ร 36 m) โ great for workshops, storage, vehicles, or shared enterprise.
Bushfire, storm, and heatwave ready design: Non-flammable hempcrete walls and BAL-40 Rated Toughened Miglas Windows
๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐
Wheelchair / universal accessibility: wide doors, threshold-free bathrooms, ambulant design.
Sound-insulated rooms + communal layout fosters a calm, restful atmosphere.
Constant fresh air, stable humidity, comfortable temperatures, natural materials and mould preventing hempcrete.
Estimates from Passive house research suggest 6 less sick days per year compared to typical construction.
Lifestyle & Location
Backing onto Muckleford Bushland Reserve โ birdlife, nature, serenity.
Just a few minutesโ drive to Castlemaine for amenities, but feels remote and peaceful.
Large property gives room for a productive homestead: orchard, garden, chickens, shared work / play spaces.
Built with resilience in mind: climate-conscious, low energy, durable materials, and designed for long-term cooperation.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐
๐จ๐ซ
Cohousing / Coliving groups: People who want to share a sustainable, purpose-built home.
Multi-generational households: Families + individuals who want both privacy, connection, and ageing in place
Eco-conscious entrepreneurs: Retreat facilitators, wellness practitioners, or social enterprises could use the space.
Community builders: Anyone wanting to start or grow a shared-living experiment (or already has one and wants a ready-made base).
Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture Practioners: Abundant infrastructure for market gardening, poultry keeping, or orcharding
If youโre part of a cohousing group, or know people who are looking for a fully built, deeply sustainable community home, this could be it. Share this post, tag your co-housing friends, or DM us and we can connect you with the listing agent.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/.../finding.../
https://renew.org.au/.../on-the-drawing-board-hempcrete.../
https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-muckleford-149100028
Set on 10.3 acres (approx) in the peaceful surrounds of Muckleford, The Open Field House is a landmark 8-bedroom residence that redefines sustainable living. Designed to passive house standards, this extraordinary home combines architectural integrity, environmental consciousness, and lifestyle flex...
