Tiny homes will be on display at Clunes Hall this Saturday, November 30.

 Northern Rivers Tiny Homes owner and operations manager Allison Rainbird sees tiny homes as a solution to the future of housing. 

Registered as caravans, they are perfect for eco-minded people ready to downsize and embrace minimalistic living, without a lot of possessions.

Allison and her team of builders and carpenters have built a showcase of tiny homes on wheels for their open day this weekend and invite everyone along to check them out.

There will be a talk at 10am and food and coffee will be available to purchase – as well as a jumping castle for the kids.

You can just show up or register before the day on Eventbrite for a chance to be in the running to win a beach house holiday at Wooli.

For more information, visit the website https://www.northernriverstinyhomes.com.au/

Allison started her business last year and has been operating from a workshed in the Lismore industrial estate.

The tiny homes are about 4.3 metres high, 2.5 metres wide and weigh up to 4.5 tonnes.

 “A 3.5 tonne tiny home can be pulled by a Landcruiser,” she said. 

“We can create and modify designs as needed. 

Allison with 'The Clunes' tiny home.

Energy efficient

Allison loves building beautiful, practical and energy efficient tiny homes.

Her eye for detail has created small buildings with matching colour schemes all the way through the wood work, bench finishes, trimmings, appliances and tiny details such as the toilet pipes being hidden from view.

“It’s the tiny details that matter,” she said.

“I want people to have the impression of a quality build.

“I wanted a house light and airy, where you don’t need air conditioning because the design lets the air flow through.

“There are windows set high up in the walls to allow cross ventilation and keep the house cool. 

Tiny towns

Each of the tiny homes Allison and her team are building have their own names - named them after tiny towns in the local area.

“We love being a local business and being known for being local – we even buy materials local as much as possible,” she said.

The deluxe model is called The Clunes and the new, cheaper model is the Larnook.

“The deluxe model has all the extras and costs about $125,000 and can sleep five people across three areas,” she said.

“The basic model costs about $99,000.”

If people from social housing organisations want tiny homes for people to sleep in and they need disability housing, Allison and her team can change the design.

“We can make it all on one level, with a bathroom wet room for someone in a wheelchair – this also can cut building costs and make it cost effective,” she said.

“We can also design tiny homes as emergency housing, where people use it for sleeping and the amenities are outside. 

“It’s cheaper to build bunk beds in these too.

“We’re open to anything people might want.”

“Social housing tiny homes is a great opportunity to give back to the community and give people who can’t afford homes a second chance

“In a flood town, a moveable home on wheels could be an ideal solution” 

The future

“In this region, people can’t afford normal housing and can’t live like that anymore,” Allison said.

“People who want to be less materialistic and own less possessions want to be part of the tiny house movement. 

“If you can’t embrace that, then the tiny house living is probably not for you."

In a fairly new industry, fitting tiny homes into a regulatory structure in council planning will be one of the future challenges.

“Tiny homes can be a good option for people renting on AirBnB, or who have teenagers, elderly parents or extended family,” Allison said.

“You can put it on land where someone has space.

“It’s ok to be used on a sporadic basis, like for seasonal accommodation for woofers.

“If it’s a secondary dwelling for a member of your household, it’s ok.

“But if you are living on vacant land alone, you’ll need approval from the council.

“We urge people to meet council regulations before committing to buying.”

Read more: SUNDAY PROFILE: Tiny homes creator Allison Rainbird