Against the stunning backdrop of the Great Dividing Range stands an iconic American barn by Fair Dinkum Builds, Sale. This is the home of the Elliott family – a dwelling with a story as unique as them.

Greg and Kerrie Elliott are lifelong Gippsland locals whose home has always been an extension of their hearts. They have raised two of their own children, plus countless foster kids over the past 30 years – mostly teens.

Their 45-hectare bush block and its campsite facilities at Valencia Creek were an ideal living arrangement. Separate cabins gave teenagers their own space, while a multi-purpose building and large outdoor facility brought everyone together. The block was the perfect place for them to ride motorbikes, drive paddock-bashers, fish, and collect and sell firewood for pocket money.

In 2017, after three decades of raising teenagers, the couple was ready to retire from fostering. That was, until they were asked to take on two young siblings. Small, separated cabins were no way to raise young children, so by 2019 the Elliotts decided to build a family home.

“That’s when we knew we needed a family home, suitable for young children to grow up in,” Kerrie says.

“So we gave Tim a call at Fair Dinkum Builds in Sale and asked what he could do for us.”

The Elliotts decided to build a shed home further south on their block. They were determined to complete the build without borrowing finance. The ability to construct and fit-out a shed home in stages at a relatively low cost drew them to the idea of a liveable shed over a conventional home builder. Fire safety was another major consideration. Then there were the aesthetics of a rustic barn in the heart of the Australian bush that captured their imagination.

“Cost was the biggest factor in choosing to build a liveable shed over a traditional house,” Kerrie says.

“The other aspect was fire danger. This is a high-risk area and there isn’t any timber in this build – it’s all steel.

“Also, I just really liked the aesthetics of a liveable barn. I wanted something rustic that would blend in with the bush.”

The Elliotts knew they wanted an iconic barn design with enough room to accommodate their three children, partners and grandchildren when they visited. They also wanted to live completely off-grid. With the help of Tim Wallace at Fair Dinkum Builds in Sale, they designed a 14.9m x 12m American barn and added a mezzanine to create a second storey for guest accommodation. A metre was added to the standard ceiling height to make the second storey liveable.

The inclusion of partition walls throughout the 170 square meter interior created a layout that would work for the family. An open kitchen-dining-living area, three bedrooms, storage, bathroom and toilet made up the lower level. A large multi-purpose room, bedroom and toilet took up the second storey. They added two sets of double glass sliding doors and large windows throughout to take in the spectacular views.

The Elliotts chose a COLORBOND® roof in SurfMist™ and exterior cladding in complementary shade Shale Grey™. The warm grey is inspired by silvered tree bark and is enhanced by the natural bush environment around it.

Living in a bushfire-prone area, the greatest challenge for the Elliotts was to achieve a high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating in order to obtain their building permit. Measures such as sealing the roof, around doors and windows and screening windows to protect against ember attack were added to their shed plan. They were required to have a number of water tanks outside and a water spray system around the perimeter of the barn.

Once their design was approved and building permits obtained, construction began. Fair Dinkum Builds contractor Peter Walker from Bairnsdale built the Elliott’s barn house over two weeks with the help of two other shed builders.

“I’m used to building barns, but this one had extra height,” Peter says.

“It just required a bit of extra thought and some heavy machinery. We built the barn walls on the ground then erected them with cranes, and were able to complete the rest from there.”

Once the barn was built, the Elliotts engaged local contractors to complete the internal fit-out including builder Wayne Mayall, plumber Ray Patchett and electrician Ben May. Internal walls were plastered by Grant Murray and painted by David Mayall, which instantly transformed the structure from steel shed to family home.

The Elliotts chose to polish the concrete floors in the living area and lay vinyl planks in the bedrooms. Aaron Lynch Joinery installed a rustic kitchen and spectacular internal barn sliding doors to match the cabinetry. A wood fire heater in the lounge is the perfect focal point for the living area.

After 16 months’ work, the end result was a rustic and homely dwelling with an interior that mirrored the spectacular bush scenery outside.

The Elliotts moved into their barn house in April 2021. Later, they added a carport extension on the north side of the home, followed by a verandah. Then they turned their attention to landscaping a spectacular terraced rock garden outside, further adding to the rustic charm of the property.

Today, the Elliott’s barn is the home they had always dreamed of and one of Valencia Creek’s most unique and iconic abodes.

“It’s absolute everything we wanted,” Kerrie says.

“We are so happy with the finished product.

“We are so appreciative of Tim and the team at Fair Dinkum Builds, Sale for being so helpful and patient with us as we navigated this process.”

Contact us for more information about building a liveable shed.