In the face of a global housing crisis, Shane—a devoted father—set out to build an affordable, sustainable tiny home for himself and his young daughter. With just AUD$35,000 (around US$23,000) and a whole lot of determination, Shane hand-built this beautiful, off-grid tiny house using clever material sourcing and smart design.
soure.image: Living Big In A Tiny House
Almost everything in the home was built by Shane himself. From salvaged materials to repurposed fittings, this DIY build proves that you don’t need a massive budget to create a warm, functional, and beautiful living space. By doing the work himself and prioritising simplicity, Shane was able to achieve something extraordinary.
soure.image: Living Big In A Tiny House
The tiny house is also a thoughtful example of incorporating solar passive design principles into a tiny house build. This was inspired by Shane’s father who started the tiny home build together with Shane and who had a real passion for solar passive design. Tragically, Shane’s dad passed away before the home was complete, and finishing the home became part of Shane’s grieving process.
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The home is adorned with carved Emu footprints, which is symbolic of his father. Male Emu’s raise their young after they hatch, so this is not only symbolic of Shane’s father’s input into the house, but also Shane’s own journey as a father to his young daughter.
This tiny house is more than just a clever build on a tight budget—it’s a reflection of resilience, family, and what’s possible when you build with heart and intention.
