Tiny house movement growing in popularity in Yarra Valley

STRUGGLING to afford a slice of the great Australian dream, or thinking about living more sustainably? You might want to consider this lifestyle trend.

Miamia Tiny Houses co-founder Ric Butler in a tiny home. Picture: Stuart Milligan

IF, like me, you’re at an age where buying property is on the cards but the journey to saving enough for a slice of the great Australian dream is out of reach, maybe it’s time to go tiny.

Imagine your living space is reduced, so cleaning takes next to no time, there is minimal to no mortgage and you have the ability to take your house wherever you like.

These are some of the perks of living tiny.

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Wesburn-based company Miamia Tiny Houses is working from non-profit sustainability organisation Yarra Valley ECOSS, and company co-founder Ric Butler said the team had two constructions underway – one destined to be a bed and breakfast.

Mr Butler said tiny houses can cost from $80,000 to $105,000, depending on the design and whether it was self-sustainable.

He said his team included builder Tom Neil, designer Stephan Clemm, and engineer Nick Kelly, who were all interested in the movement when they decided to start the business.

“There are many reasons you build tiny including holiday accommodation, single or older women wanting to downsize, housing availability, and young couples who have land but are living tiny until they can afford to build a larger house,” Mr Butler said.

Mr Butler said tiny houses on wheels needed to abide by road rules, and be less than 4.5 tonne and 4.3m high to be towed.

He said they could design and build for different needs.

“Everyone wants a bedroom, bathroom, lounge area,” Mr Butler said.

“Some want stuff upstairs but a lot of older people want mainly downstairs.”

He said the Australian climate meant tiny houses had inside and outside living, including decks, large windows and lots of lighting.

Tiny houses can be transported on a trailer. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Tiny House Australia founder Darren Hughes said the trend had been growing in popularity across the country with younger and older people.

Mr Hughes said tiny houses were a lifestyle choice that started in the US.

More than 100 people had built tiny houses in Australia, he said.

“I’ve been around and involved in the Australian tiny house movement for the past five years when there was no information about it at all,” Mr Hughes said.

“Now we have 11,000 Australians in our Facebook group and we’re building a tiny house.”

Mr Hughes said people could choose to ground their house on land, put it on wheels or set it up to be completely off-grid, which meant no utility bills.

“A house is a means to an end, a tool you can use to build a lifestyle,” he said.

“When you get rid of what you don’t need it’s amazing how little you need to be happy.”

While there were many different types of tiny houses, Mr Hughes recommended going portable and finding a company that could make a reputable tiny house-specific trailer.

He said people could park their tiny abode by striking up a rental deal with a farmer or someone who had some land.

“You can choose to be completely off-the-grid, (connect up to a) barn or a garage even,” he said.