If you have been following us for a while you might be wondering why Noonameena?
The property was called Moonya when we first purchased it in the early 2000s and prior to that it was owned by another Bicheno local – Carl Trost – since the 1980s. Before that we think an English couple had lived there since the 1950s. Sadly, we have no knowledge of who lived there prior to this.
At least as far back as the 1980s it has been known as Moonya – we don’t know how it got this name or where it came from but we were pretty sure it wasn’t a local Trouwerner name.
It is important for us to pay our respects to the original inhabitants of the land that our development rests on, so we reached out to members of the melythina tiakana warrana community, descendants of the North East tebrakuna people, for advice.
The respected academic and aboriginal elder Patsy Cameron has helped us choose the name Noonameena, which was recorded in the 19th Century as a local word used to describe a bush resting place. We think it’s a fitting description for what we are aiming to achieve.
We are also using Trouwerner to refer to Tasmania and it’s original inhabitants rather than Lutruwita or Palawa as Trouwerner is believed to be the local name for the island of Tasmania.
If you have been following us for a while you will know that this has been some journey. Since 2018, our family has been dedicated to bringing a modest and sustainable development to life. Our goal? To create a community that’s in harmony with its surroundings.
Artist impression
The plan includes eight new homes on 350 square metre lots (approx size), strata titled with extensive shared food gardens and common area. The existing Moonya Cottage, and family home are also included, amounting to 10 strata titles in total. Spread over 5 acres this community-centric development is just a 15-minute walk from the town center yet it feels like a world apart.
Established vegie garden and orchard
Finally after several false starts, and with thanks to the support from our builders, engineers, drafts people, and renewable energy advisors, we are ready to invite you to join us.
Moonya’s location is a nature lover’s dream. Bordered by Deep Hollow Creek and a state reserve, it’s only a five-minute stroll from the stunning Redbill Beach. The property boasts tall gum trees and a rich understorey, which we have worked to preserve since taking ownership over 20 years ago. As Bicheno has grown around us, Moonya has stayed the much the same.
Master Plan
A Community in the Making
After over five years of meticulous planning, we’re excited to invite you to be a part of this journey. The preparation for the first houses, set to be built in late 2024, is now underway.
The eight new houses will be constructed by the well respected modular builder, TasBuilt in Westbury near Launceston. These homes will then be transported to Bicheno ensuring minimal disturbance to the property. This method allows for a quicker build time, with homes typically ready within 12 weeks from the start.
Diverse House Layouts:
Based on original concepts from the award winning Terroir Architects in Hobart, we’ve designed three different house layouts to cater to various needs:
Lots 1,2, 7, & 8 feature a V-shape design, creating sheltered courtyards and separated living and sleeping areas.
Lots 2,3, & 4 have a classic square design, perfect for young families, with a sizable wet room/laundry accessible from the garden.
Lot 5, designed in a T-shape, is close to parking, offering easier access.
Sustainable Features:
All houses will harvest rainwater and have mains water backup. The development connects to a 40kWH solar microgrid, strategically located in a sunny spot, yet away from living spaces. While we will be grid-connected, we will have battery backup that can be easily increased in the future, as well as electric car charging facilities.
Parking is near the entrance, encouraging a walkable community with landscaped pathways to each home. An established veggie garden and orchard form part of the communal area, fostering a shared sense of stewardship over the land. Moonya is not just a development; it’s a lifestyle choice for those who value sustainability, community, and a deep connection with nature.
If you would like to find out more about this opportunity please contact us for a copy of our introductory prospectus at info@moonyabicheno.com.au We are looking forward to hearing from you.
We have been a journey which has taken much longer than any of us expected and now it’s time to invite you to join us.
In late 2019 we witnessed mainland bushfires that blew polluting smoke over Tasmania and even further afield. The fires left millions of animals dead and many people lost their homes. Just as we recovered from this, COVID struck and now it feels like things may never be the same again.
The pandemic has sped up a transition to remote working, and many young families are moving into the town – Bicheno has a new energy.
Which brings us back to our vision for Moonya @ Bicheno. Over the years we’ve seen more and more wildlife enter the property. Wallabies and possums of course, but there is also a large wombat who pops out of the bush late at night for a visit, and the occasional echidna sighting. There are numerous birds at all times of the year.
The plan is to encourage more of these animals and birds to take up residence at Moonya and we have designed the development to allow them freedom of movement. Cars will be parked on the edges of the development and no dogs or cats will be allowed onsite (apart from assistance dogs). Chickens can wander freely but not grazing animals (who tend to eat native vegetation before it has a chance to grow). There is a focus on shared food gardens and renewable energy (as described in my previous post).
We are trying to keep house prices affordable, but the real savings will be in the low maintenance and running costs. The houses will be 2 to 3 bedroom, and smaller than average at around 100m2. A large bank of solar panels, batteries as well as grid backup will provide low cost heating and lighting.
Draft 3D Model – Lot 7
Our vision is both sustainable and social. We are building homes with low environmental impact. We would like to encourage a village atmosphere where young and old look out for each other. We are not building short stay (Airbnb style) accommodation. Moonya @ Bicheno is for owner-occupiers and long term renters. It’s a place for people to live.
Early in 2022 we will start preparing the site for the first houses and we are now looking for potential buyers. All going well, the first houses could be ready by the end of 2022.
Interested? We would love to meet you.
Please phone me at the number below or use the contact form (at the bottom of the home page) to get in touch.
So it’s been a while since we last posted in late 2019 and you may have wondered what happened?
Well… a lot has happened.
Of course there was the pandemic which changed everyone’s plans in 2020 but it did give us the opportunity to reflect and continue to work behind the scenes to get everything in place.
Our biggest success was to get our Development Application (DA) approved literally on Council’s last day before Christmas. You can check out our concept plan below:
We’ve also started finalising our house plans to get ready for our first Building Application. We hope to start with Lots 7 & 8 which are the two houses in the lower left corner of the plans above.
Lots 7 & 8 will feature a V shaped design aimed at separating the Living and Sleeping/Study spaces creating a sheltered courtyard on both the east and west:
Like all the houses in the development they will be connected to a 40kWH solar micro grid in the south-east corner of the property. Chosen as one of the sunniest spots on the block but in a location otherwise unsuitable for gardens or living spaces due to it’s proximity to the State Reserve on the southern boundary.
We will have some battery capacity but will remain connected to the grid in the short to medium term while we wait for battery costs to come down. With the increasing popularity of electric cars we are also planning for car charging facilities.
The illustrations and photo below will give you an idea of how it will look (the microgrid is show by the purple squares in the lower right section of the plan):
Currently we are working to get our infrastructure quotes in place so that we can hopefully start work in the Spring.
Stay tuned – we will endeavour to do more regular updates!
