Couple to build Australia's first hemp home
Making news today, The Northern Star has reported that an Australian couple are planning to build what is believed to be Australia’s first hemp home.
Graham Sippo and Patricia Schmidt, who are currently waiting for the delivery of a crop of Australian-grown industrial hemp so they can finish their home at Billen Cliffs Village with hilltop views of Larnook, said hemp provides superior structural qualities.
“It’s basically hemp, sand and lime but unlike cement it doesn’t absorb water and sets to stone over time,” Mr Sippo said.
Hemp masonry also offers light and simply moulding and an ability to breathe, which Mr Sippo said was ideal for the humid Northern Rivers conditions because it reduced the chance of mildew.
The home’s development application was approved by Lismore City Council, however, the wait for NSW to legalise industrial hemp and the time required to grow the crop has caused some delays in the building process.