The future at The Cape for Sustainable House Day 2025
On Sunday 4 May, The Cape will once again open its doors for Sustainable House Day 2025—offering visitors a chance to experience what the future of Australian living looks like right now.
Celebrating its tenth consecutive year of participation, The Cape will showcase four standout homes—Coast, Bimbimbie, Eco Beach House, and Straithouse—each demonstrating how energy-positive, all-electric living can be both beautiful and practical.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Bass Coast, more than 130 homes have been completed and average 8-star NatHERS energy rating. The community continues to lead the way in thermal comfort, solar power, EV-readiness, water harvesting, and sustainable design.
From blueprint to reality
“The Cape is proof that a clean, resilient, and affordable future is already possible,” said Brendan Condon, Director of The Cape. “Our homes not only slash emissions and power bills but also support wellbeing, grow food, and connect people with their environment and each other.”
Visitors to Sustainable House Day will have the opportunity to tour these four homes, explore the thriving community farm, and meet the residents, designers and builders who are redefining what it means to live sustainably.
Featured homes
With views of the Bunurong Coast and a productive garden growing over 500kg of food per year, Coast is a two-storey showcase of integrated sustainable design. Featuring a 10,000-litre rainwater tank, rooftop solar, EV charging, airtight construction, and self-watering Foodcube wicking beds, this home acts as a power station, petrol station and food garden all in one.
Designed by Beaumont Building Design and built by TS Constructions, the owner of this home, Tom, a Deakin University lecturer, wanted to use the home as a real-world experiment in sustainable design. This 8.4-star NatHERS home is compact, efficient and joyful. With reverse brick veneer walls, thermal mass, passive solar orientation and double glazing, Bimbimbie proves that sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive or eccentric. As Tom puts it, “It’s a bright, light and happy home that performs even better than expected—and the grandkids love it too.”
Inspired by Bass Strait and perched on a sloping block, Straithouse offers stunning coastal views and a suite of high-performance features: triple glazing, solar panels, a green roof, a 10,000-litre rainwater tank and a continuous fresh air system. Designed by Luke Middleton and built by Martin Builders, this 8.4-star certified passive home delivers comfort, elegance, and low bills in equal measure. “It’s incredibly rewarding to live in a home that’s comfortable, efficient, and future-ready,” says owner Richard.
Customised from Adam Dettrick Architects’ Mindil design, this east-west-oriented home is bathed in natural light and performs brilliantly year-round. Solar, battery storage, passive design, and high-spec insulation mean the owners are often in credit with their energy provider. “It’s bright in winter, shaded in summer, and a joy to live in,” says homeowner Rebecca. “Good design makes all the difference.”
More than just a house tour
Sustainable House Day at The Cape is not just about impressive buildings. It’s a chance to stroll along the vast walking tracks, breathe in the coastal air, and meet the homeowners, architects and builders who are reshaping the housing conversation.
Visitors will also be able to explore The Cape’s community farm, learn about rainwater harvesting, homegrown food, EV charging and the real-world economics of energy-positive homes—which are already saving residents up to $6,000 per year in avoided power and fuel costs.
“Our residents are living proof that sustainability is not only achievable, but enjoyable and affordable,” says Condon. “We’re proud to welcome the public for Sustainable House Day and show what’s possible when communities commit to better design, better outcomes, and a better future.”