Sustainable Homes

This Sustainable, Architect-Designed Farm Stay Makes The Most Of Its 40sqm Footprint

Gawthorne’s Hut is a unique architect-designed dwelling, located on a working family farm, just outside Mudgee, NSW.

Designed by Cameron Anderson Architects, the 40 square metre property showcases the potential of small off-grid dwellings, supported by solar power, battery storage, and rainwater tanks. 

Book your next getaway to this unique, sustainable property! 

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

Gawthorne’s Hut is one of three accommodations on ‘Wilgowrah’—a 480-acre working farm located just outside Mudgee, NSW. Photo – Amber Hooper

Designed by Cameron Anderson Architects, the 40 square metre property showcases the potential of small dwellings supported by solar power, battery storage, and rainwater tanks. Photo – Amber Hooper

 The hut is the newest of three accomodations owned by farmers Rick and Steph Gordon. Photo – Amber Hooper

The use of galvanised iron and timber in Gawthorne’s Hut responds to the project’s budget, position, and rural context. Photo – Amber Hooper

The open floorplan maximises space in the 40 square metre home. Photo – Amber Hooper

Sunrises are captured through angled glazing to the east framing the secluded farmland beyond. Photo – Amber Hooper

The property operates using a 6.6kW off grid solar system, 12kW battery storage, and offers  40,000 litres of rainwater storage. Photo – Amber Hooper

The open bathroom is designed for couples getaways! Photo – Amber Hooper

Recycled brickwork salvaged from the original cottage on site (its one remaining feature) is integrated into the interiors. Photo – Amber Hooper

The unadorned facade is a credit to Cameron Anderson’s clever design that conceals all services (water and electrical infrastructure) within a large west-facing wing. Photo – Amber Hooper

Writer
Amelia Barnes
27th of February 2023

Gawthorne’s Hut is one of three accommodations on ‘Wilgowrah’—a 480-acre working farm located just outside Mudgee, NSW. The hut is the newest of the three, owned by farmers Rick and Steph Gordon. 

Cameron Anderson Architects designed Gawthorne’s Hut to be unique, sustainable and self-sufficient. Working with a $250,000 budget, he created a cosy 40 square metre property without sacrificing on any luxuries. 

The use of galvanised iron and timber in Gawthorne’s Hut responds to the project’s budget, position, and rural context. The angled roof form references a previous hay shed on site ( destroyed by a storm in 2017), while providing optimum northern orientation for solar panels to be accommodated.  

Recycled brickwork salvaged from the original cottage on site (its one remaining feature) was also integrated into the interiors. 

The unadorned facade is a credit to Cameron Anderson’s clever design, that conceals all services (water and electrical infrastructure) within a large west-facing wing. Sunrises are captured through angled glazing to the east framing the secluded farmland beyond. 

The property operates using a 6.6kW off grid solar system, 12kW battery storage, and offers 40,000 litres of rainwater storage.  

Cameron hopes the property’s small footprint demonstrates opportunities of building smaller, efficient buildings. 

The project also diversifies Wilgowrah’s traditional farming operations by providing a reliable, alternate income stream not reliant on traditional farming and weather. A tiny but mighty dwelling, that lends serious architectural kudos to this working family farm!

Book your stay at Gawthorne’s Hut

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