Melbourne couple builds $880,000 recycled-bottle Earthship after moving to Tasmania

For Matt Ellis and Kate Tucker, buying a home in Melbourne became a familiar cycle of hope, bidding and disappointment. The couple wanted to remain close to their community and friends, but they were repeatedly outbid in the inner city market. Eventually, they looked far beyond Victoria and found a more affordable path near Cygnet in Tasmania. They bought 1.5 hectares of land for $330,000 in early 2019 and started planning an unusual home based on the Earthship movement. They began building in 2022 using recycled bottles, rammed earth and passive solar principles. Nearly three years later, their home was finished at a total cost of $880,000. As reported by ABC News, the project became a demanding family build supported by volunteers, workshops and a shared belief that a sustainable home could also be modern, comfortable and personal.Leaving Melbourne behindMatt and Kate had long imagined living in the countryside, but their first preference was to find a home in or near Melbourne. They wanted to stay connected to friends and the community they knew. The problem was the property market. Again and again, the couple found themselves competing against buyers with deeper pockets.For man...