Discover the challenges and considerations of tiny house living with Emmet Blackwell, a Strategic Town Planner from Western Australia who built and lived in tiny houses in the Byron Bay Hinterland of NSW, as well as renting his tiny house out on Airbnb for some extra income.
Today he’s still small-space living on his own 40-acre property in WA, and currently living in a donga (a portable cabin) whilst working slowly on another tiny house on the side.
In this conversation, we talk about:
- Some of the challenges of building and living in a tiny house
- How Emmet was able to easily find a parking space for his tiny home in Byron Bay (including how he got around 30 offers in 48 hours!)
- The eco-community experiment in Victoria that Emmet was a part of (and why living in a community may not be for him)
- We touch on Australian Tiny House council regulations and building codes
- The composting toilet set-up that Emmet used
- And lots more!
About Emmet Blackwell
In 2018, Emmet lived in a DIY tiny home on a 40-acre organic farm in the Byron Bay Hinterland, which included 90% reclaimed materials. He had lots of help from his community to build his home.
Fast forward to 2022, and Emmet is a strategic town planner currently working for a regional shire in southwest WA, and now owns a rural property of 40 acres with his wife Lyndall, where they hope to develop an eco-tourism venture including a number of tiny houses for rent. Their property has remnant forest, wetlands, a lake, and adjoins national Park. They’re not yet offering accommodation, but hope to within a year or two. They’re very interested in setting up a space that offers meaningful opportunities for ecological education and leadership.
You can check out Emmet’s tiny adventures here:
W: http://www.thewoodbutcherstinyhouse.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thewoodbutcherstinyhouse
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thewoodbutcherstinyhouse/
Resources mentioned in this conversation:
- A Simpler Way – Documentary
- Lloyd Kahn – Tiny House Books
- Milkwood Permaculture – Wheely Bin for Humanure
- Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
- Urine Diverter for Composting Toilet
- Composting Toilets – Australian Government Guidelines
- Australian Government Registered and Accredited Waterless Composting Toilet Systems
- Are Composting Toilets Legal in Australia?
- Australian Regulations and Building Codes for Tiny Houses
- Emmet’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning Dissertation
