Ballarat Barn

Set in Ballarat Central, Victoria, this family home pairs a shingle-clad, barn-inspired addition with an existing weatherboard house. The new work reads as two pavilions linked to the original home, opening into a light-filled, open-plan living space that spills out onto the garden.

Shingles and timber cladding layer texture across the addition, setting it apart from the original weatherboard while keeping the two in conversation. Inside, the addition's steep, barn-like roof pitch is left exposed and lined with locally sourced silvertop ash, giving the main living area a generous sense of volume.

A neutral palette of concrete, timber, stone and black cabinetry keeps the focus on the greenery outside and forms a durable, timeless backdrop as the family grows. The home is built for the local climate: a heated concrete slab and double glazing hold the warmth through Ballarat's coldest winters, while sliding doors open the living spaces to the garden in the warmer months.

Completed in 2021 across a single level.

Architect: Eliza Blair Architecture. Builder: Hayden Bromley Building. Photography: Shannon McGrath.