News

You’ll find links to all our newsletters at the bottom of this page.

November 2021

Newsletter No 18

Sale of Stage 4 Time running out

Hi all,
Thankyou for expressing interest in The Paddock over the past few years. It was great to see many of you at one of our numerous site visits.

The Paddock’ sustainability features are now causing considerable interest amongst architects, environment organisations, local government officers and the general public all over Australia. One reason for this is the fact that our houses are now making a positive contribution to climate change mitigation; we produce much more energy on the rooftops than we use in the houses. Also a great community is clearly developing.

I’m writing to let you know that time is running out to be involved in the off-the-plan purchase of any of the houses which are in the final stage, stage 4, which will be built in 2022. The typography is set out below.

We are expecting our quotes to come from builders this week and to know what our costs, and therefore our prices, are likely to be soon after. We will then be able to make offers to people on our list. We hope to have contracts of sale signed by Xmas or soon after.

As you may know we have a Priority Listing Scheme whereby people select their preferred house and pay a small amount of money as a commitment. We will be giving preference to those people who still wish to purchase after we announce the prices. We have not yet allocated all the houses and we also have waiting list for some of the houses.

Please let me know very soon if you would like to be involved.
Email here

February 2021

Site visits coming up!

Moving into the Paddock is not just about purchasing a top-quality sustainable house. You reap all the advantages of the whole project including: the community centre, shared laundry, garden shed and studio, the acre of food growing in wicking beds, the chook run, and all the beauty and spirit which the Living Building Challenge requires us to create. 

We'll be holding site visits at 12 noon and 2pm on Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th February. Please book by clicking on Register your interest.

If the times don’t suit you, please contact Neil on 0419 327 791 to arrange a visit.

Read architect, Talina Edwards full quote here:

I recently took my colleagues from my architectural practice to visit The Paddock Eco-Village in Castlemaine. We love experiencing different housing types and were very impressed with this sustainable development that has been designed to the principles of the Living Building Challenge (LBC). Few developments have achieved this high level of 'sustainability' which actually goes beyond just "doing less harm" and moves towards a more regenerative model of "doing good" for the earth. 

The homes are compact compared to Australia's over-inflated McMansions, but they had a lovely sense of spaciousness inside, were well-proportioned, and very efficiently planned to ensure they feel larger than the floor area. Clever design means the living areas are elevated to embrace distant views of the landscape of the site and beyond, while still having a private garden retreat. The homes felt light and bright due to the northern-orientation and considered window placement.

The internal materials are all low embodied-carbon and non-toxic to meet the LBC criteria - and we loved the texture of the recycled brick walls and the timbers which engage the senses and are a great example of Biophilic Design (which is all about ways we feel connected to nature).

These homes harvest all their water on site, and are powered by on-site solar, making them self-sufficient. There are very low running costs (with very little heating and cooling needed) due to the energy-efficient 8+ star design! 

We would love to be living in this type of community where harmony with the land and each other is integral to the way of life. We applaud this initiative and hope this development inspires many more like it all across Australia! We congratulate Neil and Heather Barrett, their architect Geoff Crosby (Crosby Architects), and their whole team for making this pioneering project happen. We need more champions like The Paddock's creators in our industry showing these housing types are not only possible, but desirable and necessary for a better future!

We would encourage you to visit and experience these homes for yourself.

- Talina Edwards Architecture www.talinaedwards.com.au 

December 16, 2019

There was a wonderful turn out on the weekend with more than 100 people coming to see the Paddock on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15. Visitors were given a tour of the site and shown 2-bedroom and 4-bedroom houses as well as the community centre in the completed Stage 1.

More site visits will be held on Saturday, January 18, and Sunday, January 19, at 2pm and 2.30pm. Find out what high-standard sustainable living looks like by coming and seeing the Paddock! Construction of Stage 2 will begin in 2020. For more details, contact us.

December 11, 2019

Site visits this Saturday and Sunday!

Ever wondered what a quality, 8-star sustainable house looks and feels like?

Come and visit the Paddock eco village this Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, to find out. Tours will be held at 2pm and 2.30pm at 19 Reckleben Street, Castlemaine.

With Stage 1 completed, if you’re interested in buying into Stages 2 to 4 this will be a great opportunity to be guided around the site and inspect the community centre and at least two of the completed houses in Stage 1.

Phone or text Neil on 0419 327 791 to let us know you are coming. We hope to see you there!

Appointments can be made to visit the Paddock on other days/times - contact Neil to make arrangements.

December 5, 2019

Steve Bracks officially launches the Paddock

The Honourable Steve Bracks AC, former Premier of Victoria, officially launched the Paddock today after being given a tour of Stage 1 of the development. Mount Alexander Shire Mayor Cr Christine Henderson and Stephen Choi of the Living Future Institute also spoke at the event, praising the Paddock as an example of what’s possible in high-standard sustainable living. See the photos from the launch.

November 30, 2019

Site visits on December 7 and 8

The Paddock is preparing for Stage 2 sales and construction. Tours of Stage 1 homes will be conducted on Saturday, December 7 at 2pm and 2.30pm and Sunday, December 8 at 4pm and 4.30pm on site at 19 Reckleben Street, Castlemaine. Interested? Get in touch.

The new residents of Stage 1 recently held their first dinner at the Paddock’s community centre. Cheers to good company and sustainable living!

October 30, 2019

Stage 1 of the Paddock is complete!

We’re delighted that Stage 1 is finished. Loving the look, the excellent sustainability credentials, community centre and general good vibe. Onward to Stage 2! There are 2BR, 3BR and 4BR homes available in Stage 2 so make sure contact us to get your place in the Paddock.

September 16, 2019

Sustainable House Day a roaring success

Over 200 people booked in for a tour of the Community Centre at The Paddock on Sunday September 15th. Neil and Karl ran tours on the hour between 10am and 4pm. The Centre is a bit bigger than a 4BR house and gives a good idea of the finishes and facilities in the seven houses purchased off the plan a year ago and now virtually completed. These houses were not ready for inspection on Sunday simply because the floors needed more time to dry.

The public reaction on the day was terrific. Marg of Castlemaine wrote the next day:

“I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to see The Paddock and congratulations to you for what you have achieved. I wonder if you are at the stage where you can’t see the wood for the trees and don’t quite realise what an amazing community you are building. It really is stunning.”

September 7, 2019
The Paddock involvement in Sustainable House Day coming up on 15th September will be putting all income earned from the $5 visitor fee into the Global Climate Strike on 20th September 2019.

September 5, 2019

We have almost finished construction of Stage 1 and it’s looking terrific, according to all reports. Buyers will move in in late October or early November after all legal requirements have been met.

We are therefore starting to firm up the buyers for Stage 2. If you are interested, you would need to have a chat with Neil on the phone or email, have a 10% deposit ready by the middle of October and look forward to settlement and moving in around July 2020.

We have 2BR, 3BR and 4BR houses available.

Please note there will not be a site visit on 8th Sept as previously advised. There will however be one on Sustainable House Day on Sunday 15th Sept and again on Sunday Oct 20th 10am-2pm. 

August 2019

Adam Wright, of Beyond Today, a large and very successful eco development in Victor Harbour, South Australia, recently visited the Paddock for a second time in three years. He wrote to us soon after his visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting 'The Paddock' and seeing all the great work that has been undertaken since my last visit before site works had even begun. The first stage of homes is looking beautiful with earthy textures and modern finishes. It was fantastic to see the winter sun beaming through the glazing, naturally warming the homes on what was a very cool afternoon. I am always enthused when I see projects like this coming together, as it is very rare to have developers that care so much about the end product and how the homes actually ‘ live'. The residents will benefit greatly from the careful consideration taken through the design process ensuring efficiency and comfort for every home. I look forward to returning again one day and seeing the relationship between the homes and the surrounding landscape taking shape. When finished it will be a really stunning little development!

For more info about Beyond Today see: beyondtoday.com.au

June 2019

Downsizing at the Paddock- ABC Central Victoria interviews Stage 1 buyer Barb Ashworth and writer Annitra Nelson, 20/6/19

May 2019

Pemma and Jen talk about the important sense of community and their interest in the Paddock Eco Village. Interview by Neil Barrett.

May 2019

Neil Barret interviews Nina about why she and her family are interested in the Paddock.

13 March 2019

Great progress on the build. All set for completion in September.

13 March 2019 Energy at the Paddock

13 March 2019 Karl Albrecht, building superintendent tells us how the timeline is coming along.

1st February 2019

Construction is proceeding well on Stage 1 of The Paddock, with seven houses and the community centre now taking shape.

Construction begins 5th June 2018

Part two of an Interview with Remi Rauline former project manager at The Paddock Eco Village with Neil Barrett, Co-Developer.
Remi explains the process of beginning the construction.

7th May 2018
Neil Barrett introduces what is happening.

News release: 7/5/18

Planning approval obtained

The development was approved for planning purposes in November 2017. Several councillors, including the Mayor at the time, praised the project as exciting and needed by the Shire.

Official council endorsement of our plans was received by our project team in March 2018.

Workshops completed

Those buyers of houses in Stage 1, completed a 4 part series of half day workshops early in February this year. Various consultants attended and gave us their advice on a range of topics, including water use, waste, energy, landscape architecture and how it creates community, the owners corporation and its rules and how to best manage the fruit and vegetable growing area. . We also learned a great deal from the six participants as their feedback had a significant influence on aspects of the development, including the garden shed layout and design and our decision to incorporate art studios in it.

Stage 1 sold

All seven houses in Stage 1 have been pre-sold to people who will all make a valuable contribution to the Paddock community. They include people involved in medicine, libraries, nursing and drug and alcohol counselling.

Survey conducted

In April this year, we conducted a survey of those who have expressed interest in The Paddock over the past 11 months since our launch In May 2017. We were rapt to find that Interest in Stage 2 and later stages is very strong, to the point where, if the bank were to agree, we could proceed with Stage 2 now with 100% pre-sold. But it looks like we will have to wait, so that people can’t be officially signed up until well into this year. We will keep you posted on this. In the meantime we are still taking in expressions of interest in Stage 2, 3 and 4. See our website for details.

Recent media coverage

Our academic adviser, Dr Dominique Hes of the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning appeared on local ABC radio’s morning show on 23rd April. Dominique spoke about the Living Building Challenge and investing in nature which are particular interests of hers as well as features of The Paddock. Dominique hopes the The Paddock and Bull St developments in Castlemaine will usher in big changes in land development in Australia.

Land clearing starts

On 23rd April, the sad but necessary task of tree felling began in order to make way for houses and gardening. Trees were cut into logs to provide seating and habitat round the Paddock or chipped to provide mulch, in fact a mountain of it.

Early in May the house and sheds will be demolished and earth moving will commence in order to make roads, paths and house pads and to render harmless a section of soil contaminated by Chilean Needlegrass. (The normal practice in land development is to simply spread noxious weeds over and beyond the development site, so we’re pleased with what we’re doing in this respect). Overall, about 1,000 cubic metres of soil will be temporarily removed to land next door, with most, if not all, of it being put back later.

Construction of the 7 houses and the 125m2 community centre in Stage 1 will start in June and be completed by April 2019.

News release: 6/9/17 Local waste experts at Paddock workshop

One of the aims of The Paddock eco village in Reckleben Street, Castlemaine will be to reduce waste to a minimum. At the first workshop for aspiring members held last Saturday, local experts, Bill Grant of Blue Environment, Lucy Young of the Hub Foundation and Chris Hooper of the Castlemaine Repair Cafe, showed participants how it could be done. To the usual 3Rs of reduce, re-use and recycle, a fourth was added: refuse. This relates to the current campaign of the Hub Foundation and others to encourage people to actually refuse to take plastic bags from retailers.

Lucy, Chris and Bill also discussed the potential for cutting waste by bulk buying and reviving the old practice of getting things repaired instead of throwing them away as soon as something goes wrong. The Castlemaine Repair Cafe is a great new local innovation

Another speaker during the day was Damien Moyse of the Alternative Technology Association. Damien showed how the 8.5 star rating of the houses combined with 16 solar panels on the roof will mean that the community will produce more energy than it will consume.

The workshop is one of four which aim to introduce Paddock members to the eco village concept and the philosophy behind it, to provide feedback to the project organisers on a range of issues and to allow people to design their houses with the architect Geoff Crosby of Crosby Architects. The second workshop will be on the use of shared land and buildings such as sheds, laundry and community centre. The third will discuss participants’ expectations for their private spaces (both the internal living areas and private gardens) and at the fourth workshop the project team will present a proposal to address the expectations and needs raised by participants in workshops 2 and 3, including customised plans for each participant’s home.

The organisers hope to obtain planning approval in the near future and to commence earthworks and building early in the new year.

If you are interested please contact the Project Manager, Remi Rauline on 0481 255 990.

NEWSLETTERS

Newsletter no 18 - November 2021
Newsletter no 17 - January 2021
Newsletter no 16 - July 2020
Newsletter no 15 - June 2020
Newsletter no 14 - March 2020
Newsletter no 13 - February 2020
Newsletter no 12 - January 2020
Newsletter no 11 - January 2020
Newsletter no 10 - December 2019
Newsletter no 9 - November 2019
Newsletter no 8 - July 2019
Newsletter no 7 - May 2019
Newsletter no 6 - February 2019
Newsletter no 5 - October 2018
Newsletter no 4 - July 2018
Newsletter no 3 - April 2018
Newsletter no 2 - December 2017
Newsletter no 1 - September 2017