Harmony House

Hello travellers!

We’ve recently built a wonderfully energy efficient passive solar house, complete with off-grid solar for all our energy needs, rain water collection for all our water needs, and a worm farm waste management system for natural black and grey water processing. We’ve put a lot of work in to achieve a fossil-fuel-free, all-electric, household, with as small an environmental footprint as possible.

We’re also lucky to live in a beautiful rural/coastal area near Inverloch, Victoria, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes south-east of Melbourne. We are close to some of Victoria’s most famous wildlife and wilderness attractions, including the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, the Koala Conservation Reserve, and hiking and camping at Wilson’s Promontory (not to mention numerous local beaches and fishing spots only 10 minutes away!).

With our house complete, we’re now working to progress the landscaping aspects of our project. We’d be very appreciative of a helping hand or two to help complete: a natural habitat pond, the installation of a watering system, garden beds, vegetable gardens, and a small orchard.

If all this sounds of interest, we’d love to hear from you! We’re ready for an immediate start, and can accommodate stays of anything from a week to a couple of months - let us know what works for you. We have a private onsite caravan for guests, complete with kitchen, shower and toilet, with optional additional use of a secondary private bathroom.

(To find out more about our house and our project in general, feel free to have a look at the following:

- A blurb we did for Sustainable House Day at [https://sustainablehouseday.com/listing/harmony-house/]. This is the shortest overview, and there’s a short video on that page as well (yellow button) showing some of our house features, including our robot lawn mower ‘Humphrey’.

- A case study on us at the YourHome site [https://www.yourhome.gov.au/case-studies/Inverloch-Victoria], which has a bit more information.

- And also our house website [https://harmonyhouse.com.au], which has the most information.)

NOTE FOR 2024-2025: If there's anyone with experience building fences, please apply, as that's one task I seem to be having trouble ticking off the list! :)

ANOTHER 2024-2025 NOTE: Our whole family is currently trying to learn as much Spanish as possible for an upcoming adventure to Peru (April 2025), so we are particularly welcoming any native Spanish speakers at the moment! Come and help us learn Spanish!

We are friendly and positive people, passionate about sustainable living, and love meeting interesting people. We believe with good communication that everyone's needs can be met, so look forward to discussing the best possible homestay experience for you.


Avaliações

5.0
(22 avaliações)22

Anfitrião & Equipe

5.0

Horas & Atividades

5.0

Hostel

5.0

Aprendizado & Diversão

5.0

Espanha

5

Richard and his family welcomed us as if we were part of the family, making us feel included in their daily routine. We shared great moments together playing games in the evening or watching series.

The place where the house is located is very quiet, beautiful, and spacious, so if you're looking for peace and calm, this is the perfect spot.

As for the daily working hours, Richard makes sure that they are fair and as agreed, and he’s always open to talk things through if needed, which makes everything very easy

It has truly been a pleasure spending this time with the whole family.

2 meses atrás


Richard respondeu

Was so great to have you here, Alberto! Thanks so much for helping me progress both the firepit area and my Spanish! I hope we meet up again sometime!

Suíça

5

The Lockharts are an extremely friendly and open family. I felt well integrated. You sleep in a comfortable caravan and have your own bathroom in a shed outside the house. In the evenings, we often played games or watched a movie together. The food was always delicious and healthy.

Thank you very much!

3 meses atrás


Richard respondeu

You're very welcome, Jonas! Hope the rest of your Australian travels are going great!

Espanha

5

I had an amazing experience in Harmony house staying with this wonderful family. The work is intense, and there is a lot to do, but it is totally worth it. They are kind, welcoming, and always grateful for your help. From the first day, I felt like part of the family. I learned so much, not only about gardening but also about life. The atmosphere is warm and positive, and the food is delicious! If you are ready to work hard, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.
Thank you Richard, Kerryn, Lyra, Kayley and the cute Charlie for these two incredible weeks.

4 meses atrás


Richard respondeu

Thank you Laura for being so great and adaptable during what I think has been pretty much the busiest two weeks we’ve ever had here, getting ready to go off on our own trip! We were so lucky to have you during this time, and we look forward to things getting back to normal on our return! Good luck for your Western Australia adventure!

Argentina

5

From the very first moment, I felt at home. Richard, Kerryn, Lyra, and Kayley are a wonderful and incredibly welcoming family. I want to thank them for the beautiful moments we shared and the great memories I will cherish.

I really enjoyed playing chess with Richard, even though I couldn’t beat him! Haha.

As for the work, the tasks were well-organized, and I truly enjoyed working with Richard—he is very patient and dedicated, and at the same time, he practiced his Spanish.

I want to dedicate a special mention to my dear Charlie—thank you for your cuddles and purrs!

5 meses atrás


Richard respondeu

Thank you so much, Ani. It was really great having you! And I'm very sure we will see each other again!

Ucrânia

5

Volunteering in Australia has been an unforgettable experience. Staying with Richard and his family opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on life and communication. From the very first day, I felt welcomed and valued, which made the experience even more meaningful.
One of the most rewarding aspects was the chance to share my culture while also immersing myself in a new one. Every day brought something new to reflect on.
I was also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to mentally unwind from the difficult situation in my home country and feel truly alive again.

5 meses atrás


Richard respondeu

I'm so glad we were able to be a part of such a special experience for you Nastya, and you were a special guest for us too. I hope things go well for everyone in your country - keep in touch!


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