A lifestyle acreage property can provide you with your very own slice of country paradise – the perfect escape from the busyness of life.
Whether your vision is a sprawling estate that looks over rolling hills or a custom-built home that makes the most of its coastal location, an acreage block allows you the space to truly create your own lifestyle property.
And in our region, you can find acreage properties as close as 30 minutes from Geelong – providing you the best of both the country and the city.
Top locations for acreages include — Ocean Grove, Torquay and the Golden Plains (Bannockburn, Teesdale, Inverleigh and Lethbridge).
In addition, an acreage block allows you the space to build the home that you’ve always wanted that will suit your new acreage lifestyle.
However, before you start searching for acreage land to complete your dream lifestyle, there are a number of things you must consider and plan for.
- Power
Firstly, does your block have access to power and will the power meet your usage requirements. An alternative is an off-grid power set-up using renewable energy. This is costly and residents will still need to consider their usage requirements to ensure they have enough electricity to power their essentials. However it has a number of benefits, including less impact on the environment and self-sufficiency. Every Hamlan home comes with a Bradford Solar ChargePack including Tesla Powerwall, which is a customised solar-plus-battery solution.You can also reduce your power usage by utilising the orientation of your block and your home. Home orientation is how your home is positioned on your block to make the most of the northern sun depending on the season and the time of day. It results in better natural light and a more comfortable temperature in your home throughout the day whatever the season.This means less heating or cooling and therefore less energy consumption on your acreage. - Water supply and drainage
Water supply is another important aspect to consider. Your property will need water for drinking and cleaning plus water for your garden.If your block is located in an unserviced area, there are a number of options. According to Barwon Water, you may be eligible to connect via a new private connnection or a private connection owned by a third party. It is best to contact Barwon Water for your options. In terms of drainage design, you may need to contact Council as in many new acreage blocks the stormwater needs to be designed by an engineer as a requirement. For garden water, rainwater tanks are an excellent option – with all the space available on your property, you could easily install rain water tanks and pumps to keep your gardens looking lush and green. - Septic tank
Some acreage-style blocks may not have sewer connections so it’s important to understand if a septic system is needed.First step is to check with Barwon Water to find out whether or not the property is serviced by sewers or if there are any planned sewer extension work for your area. If not, you will need an on-site waste water management system or septic tank, which requires a council-approved permit. In terms of a location for the septic system, you will need to establish a location that is out of the way of any proposed sheds, buildings or pools. - Planning permits and requirements
Planning permits are a necessary part of building any home. If you’re unsure about your requirement, the local council can provide information on the zone and overlays of your block, and what permits will be required. Council can also provide information on any future developments and amentities that might be planned in your area. Building envelopes and setbacks from fences are another planning requirement you must also consider. And for homes built between Jan Juc to Lorne you will need to adhere to the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO). Each build requires a bushfire management statement and needs to go through the Council. There are a number of criteria the build has to meet, such as the property needs to have a defendable space around the home and it must be built with non-combustible material for the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating. - All weather access
Once the planning permits have been approved and you’ve met all your requirements, it’ll be time to build. However, access is also another aspect to take into consideration. You will need to think about how brick and framing trucks will be able to access the site during construction. Things to consider for access includes whether trees might need to be removed. This is something that your builder can manage – so ensure you have chosen an experienced builder, like Hamlan, to help you through this process.
Just add your dream Hamlan home
Hamlan are experts in building local homes to suit our local landscapes and we have developed three acreage homes to suit different lifestyles and requirements.
As a starting point we have our Stonehaven 302. Central to the design of this home is its connection to the outdoors. Sliding doors run along the rear of the home, filling it with light and fresh country air. Other features include mudroom, kids wing with rumpus room and study.
Our is Stonehaven 347 is perfect for those seeking a home of grand proportions. A double-storey home, it is designed to make the most of the freedom of country living but in a home that is polished and modern. Some of the features of our Stonehaven 347 include a secluded main bedroom on the first floor, which features large ensuite, walk-in robe and private balcony. It also has a zoned kids wing with rumpus room and guest room with its own ensuite.
Our Gellibrand 287 is one of our most popular acreage designs. This courtyard home is defined by its large verandah across the front of the home and its use of a courtyard to capture both front and back views of the property. It also has a generously sized master bedroom to one end of the home and a kids wing with rumpus room to the other end.
We also have the Gellibrand 359, which spans over 39 squares and has room for the whole family to comfortably live, relax, study and play.
All three designs come with options including raked ceilings to your living areas, butler’s pantry, study, guest bedroom with ensuite and an alfresco area.
In summary
Whether your vision is a sprawling estate that looks over rolling hills or a custom-built home that makes the most of its coastal location, an acreage block allows you the space to truly create your own lifestyle property.
However, before you embark on building a home on an acreage block you must consider five things:
- Power
- Water supply and drainage
- Septic tank
- Planning permits and requirements
- All weather access
Hamlan have been building homes across our region for almost 40 years and can provide the right advice and guidance to people who are looking to build an acreage home. We also offer a custom build option, so if any of our designs suit your needs we can make tweaks to our designs to make it just right.
