Secondhand building materials result in creativity and beauty

Perched on five serene acres in Wallagoot, NSW, the home of Jenny and Damien exemplifies the art of sustainable living. It’s a story of resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to their vision. From its straw bale walls to the eclectic mix of salvaged materials and handmade finishes, their home becomes an intimate portrait of them and their dedication to mindful living. It also showcases how limitations can spark creativity, resulting in a home that is not only beautiful but deeply personal.

Years of collecting

In 2021, Jenny and Damien moved to Wallagoot with a caravan and two shipping containers filled with salvaged treasures and a vision to build a self-sufficient home entirely shaped by the materials they had gathered over the years. The couple camped on their block for months, observing the land and its climate before breaking ground.

“At first, we thought purely about views” Jenny recalls, but when it came time to build, it became apparent how crucial it was to factor in things like soil type, existing trees, the position of neighbours, orientation and wind direction. “It’s amazing how those practical considerations informed the final design.”

The decision to self-build extended far beyond finances for Jenny and Damien. It was about creating a home deeply personal and reflective of their values. Despite the challenges, from weather extremes including bushfire threats followed by heavy rains that saturated their property, to the intricacies of off-grid living, Jenny and Damien embraced the process wholeheartedly.

Building From the Ground Up

The house’s structure reflects a marriage of sustainability and practicality. Elevated on 120 concrete stumps to protect it from termites, moisture and improve airflow, they support timber bearers and joists with recycled hardwood timber floors and insulated with Earthwool batts.

Its walls, constructed from straw bales, provide exceptional thermal performance and sound insulation. Damien explained that “it performs so well in winter, that it can be below zero outside and around 17 degrees inside without any additional heating”. The inherent properties of using straw bale as a building material creates a uniquely cosy environment that’s hard to compare. Curved window surrounds are one of the most distinctive features in straw bale homes. The softness it adds to the space creates a feeling akin to being hugged by the home itself. Rendered with a mix of clay, sand, and lime, most of which was sourced locally, the walls are therefore breathable  reducing the chance of moisture becoming trapped.

The roof, made from corrugated steel sheets, incorporates a vapor-permeable lining to enhance insulation and prevent condensation. Damien and Jenny installed mesh between the roof edges and gutters, providing protection from embers and insects, ensuring the home is also resilient. “We didn’t even need a skip bin during construction,” Jenny says. “Every off-cut was taken directly to the tip or repurposed. It’s amazing what you can achieve with a minimal waste mindset.”

Mindful Living

Wallagoot House operates entirely off-grid, powered by a solar system that meets all the couple’s energy needs, including heating water through evacuated tube solar panels. “We debated connecting to the grid but found the cost was comparable to installing a self-sufficient solar system,” Damien says. “And without ongoing connection fees, it’s more economical in the long run.” Damien being an electrician was all over their energy usage.

Automation is everywhere around us, our homes, furniture, offices, cars; we’ve become so accustomed to being surrounded by automated systems that it’s easy to forget what life was like without them. And while it’s convenient and has in many ways improved the quality of our homes, it can disconnect you. Jenny and Damien’s home thoughtfully reflects their commitment to a simpler, more intentional way of life. Their decision to forego automated systems, from the manual operation of the water pump, to the choosing of when to switch the hot water unit on, depending if there’s been enough sunshine to heat the evacuated glass tubes, every choice aligns with their values. “We generally use gravity-fed water pressure but can switch the pump on if needed,” Jenny explains. “It’s about being conscious of our usage and adapting to the resources we have.”

Passive Design in Action

Jenny and Damien designed their home with large north-facing windows to allow for maximum solar gain, while smaller south-facing windows facilitate cross-ventilation, creating natural airflow. “We’ve never experienced anything like it before,” Jenny says. “It’s such a simple design feature, but it’s life-changing.”

Australian-made timber-framed, double-glazed windows further enhance the home’s energy efficiency, while an airlock at the main entrance minimises heat loss or gain during entry and exit. Glazing can be a major thermal bridge, and so the couple were meticulous about choosing windows and doors that wouldn’t compromise the thermal envelope. These small decisions have a significant impact on the overall comfort of the house.

Salvaged Treasures

Almost everything is second-hand, which is why nothing quite matches, but it's part of the charm. For Jenny and Damien, one of the most rewarding aspects of building Wallagoot House was designing around the materials they had collected over the years. From timber beams to vintage light fixtures and even the stove, every element of the house has a story.

They’ve been collecting materials their whole lives. Jenny told us that specifically for this project, they spent years gathering items from various places; local buy-swap-sell groups, the tip or salvaged from construction sites. Damien’s work as an electrician often brought him in contact with discarded treasures. People would say, ‘Get rid of this,’ and he’d step in, knowing he could put it to use. Jenny says, “It’s amazing to be part of that kind of network. Tradespeople know each other, and our son, who's a plumber, often tips us off. The roofing sheets for the shed, for instance, were all salvaged from construction sites. There’s a real community dedicated to reusing and recycling materials.”

They had so much that they needed extra storage on Jenny’s parents' property in Victoria, filling up two shipping containers with decking, flooring, doors, a stove, beams, and framing timbers. When you build with recycled materials, it takes time. You can’t just buy what you need right away; instead, you design around what you have, which makes the process creatively challenging but ultimately rewarding. It forces you to think outside the box and build something truly unique. Having limitations actually forces you to think deeply about solutions, and the result is spaces that are rich and meaningful.

They used second hand materials wherever they could but were restricted by BAL rating (being in bushfire overlay area) and energy efficiency rating for BASIX. Many times, second-hand was a positive for example they were able to choose to include timber from non-sustainable species for the decking only because it was reclaimed and not new. The varying widths of timber for the decking turned into a feature design aesthetic from using what they had available.

The couple’s resourcefulness shines in every corner, including the airlock’s hardwood cladding, salvaged from a mill’s waste pile. It was difficult to work with because of all the twists and turns, different thicknesses and imperfections but they’re really happy with the result. It saved the wood for a useful purpose instead of just the fire and it cost hundreds instead of thousands of dollars.

It pays to look around, for example, the shelving in the store room was salvaged from a store closing down. “I love how the old paint looks, even in the kitchen. People often strip and restore old paint, but I think it loses its charm” Damien said.

The Joy of DIY

As owner-builders, Jenny and Damien took on most aspects of the build, from waterproofing to rendering, learning new skills along the way. The process wasn’t without its challenges, and yet, the couple found joy in the journey.

Jenny has been experimenting with making her own lime paint. It gives a calming feel to the spaces, though it was a challenge to apply at first. Once it all came together, it transformed the room into a serene space. Now she’s trying out different oxides to mix into renders. She says there’s no guide, so she’s just experimenting and seeing how it turns out. She says; “I love the natural variation in colour—it doesn’t need to be perfect. Working with irregular textures and experimenting with materials has been freeing. Even the imperfections bring character to the place."

Living the Vision

Three years into the build, Wallagoot House is nearly complete, though Jenny and Damien acknowledge that timelines in self-building often stretch. “On Grand Designs, they always ask about time and cost,” Damien laughs. “We thought it would take a year, but here we are, still working. The process has taught us patience and adaptability.”

The result is a home that feels alive. It’s intentionally small so it’s easier to look after. When designing the home, Jenny and Damien wanted a flexible layout so that they could reconfigure the main open plan kitchen and living area according to the number of people in the house, which can fluctuate anywhere up to 20 people depending on family visiting from interstate. The island bench in the kitchen is actually made of two different second-hand furniture pieces on castor wheels so that they can easily be moved around. The couple plan to build a banquette seat along the entire west wall of the main room which can then also be used as two beds. They have several basins instead of multiple bathrooms. This is so people can do handwashing/teeth cleaning etc without needing to occupy the whole bathroom.

Jenny and Damien’s journey is a testament to what’s possible with ingenuity and commitment to sustainability. Wallagoot House isn’t just a shelter; it’s an embodiment of values—independence, creativity, and a deep respect for the earth.

Their story offers inspiration for anyone considering an alternative path to homebuilding. With patience, resourcefulness, and a touch of adventure, Jenny and Damien have shown that creating a sustainable, beautiful home is not only achievable, it’s immensely rewarding.