Building with Earth: Insights from the 2025 EBAA Conference

Earlier this April, I had the pleasure of attending the Earth Building Association of Australia (EBAA) Conference, held at the beautiful Hawkesbury Campus of Western Sydney University. The theme for this year’s event was “Getting Your Earth Home Approved”—a topic close to the hearts of many builders, designers, architects, and owner-builders committed to working with natural materials.

Spanning three packed days from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th April 2025, the conference combined expert talks, hands-on workshops, lively panel discussions, and inspiring site visits—all focused on navigating the often complex journey of designing, building, and gaining approval for earth-based construction.

A Community Built on Earth

For those unfamiliar, the Earth Building Association of Australia is the peak body supporting the use of unfired earth as a sustainable building material. With members ranging from tradespeople and designers to manufacturers, educators and DIY owner-builders, EBAA promotes the use of earth in construction across Australia and beyond.

This year’s conference brought together industry leaders and passionate professionals to explore:

• Navigating building codes and planning regulations

• Overcoming regulatory hurdles (including bushfire, fire resistance, thermal performance, and weatherproofing)

• Writing Deemed-to-Satisfy and Performance-Based Solutions that align with the National Construction Code

• Case studies showing how earth homes can be compliant, comfortable, and completely stunning

Friday: From Inspiration to Hands-On Learning

We kicked off Friday morning with a warm welcome from Peter Hickson of Earth Building Solutions, setting the scene for the challenges and triumphs involved in earth building approvals.

We were then treated to a keynote by celebrated architect Luigi Rosselli, who shared his latest work in rammed earth, including his iconic “Great Wall of WA.” The morning continued with expert sessions from Anna Schlunke on getting a BASIX certificate for earth homes, and a team from Hillbridge Designers and Engineers discussing performance-based compliance strategies.

A panel session brought together Luigi, Anna, Peter Hickson, and more for a robust discussion on real-world challenges and solutions in earth construction.

Then came a real highlight: Dr. Kate Dunn (UNSW) introduced us to the exciting world of 3D printing with earth materials—a cutting-edge blend of ancient material and modern tech.

Hands-On in the Shed

Friday afternoon was all about getting muddy in the best way possible. At the workshop space behind the Secret Garden, participants rotated through stations working with:

• Earth-based 3D printing

• Hand-made mud bricks

• Compressed earth blocks

• Hempcrete

• Light earth mixtures from the ever-innovative teams at Mudtec and Integration Biotecture

Ray Trappel also showcased a small demonstration hut—a charming studio structure built over successive workshops using multiple natural materials. It was a perfect example of what’s possible under a small-scale permit while experimenting with different systems.

Friday evening wrapped up with a lovely communal dinner and a fast-paced 5×5 speaker series, where five presenters shared case studies tackling BASIX, NATHERS, and the nitty-gritty of approvals.

Saturday: Deep Dives & Design Solutions

The weekend didn’t slow down. Saturday morning featured an inspiring keynote from David Kaunitz (Kaunitz Yeung Architecture), sharing beautiful case studies from Indigenous community buildings made with rammed earth.

Aysh Venkatesan broke down her team’s approach to compliance for natural builds, and Oliver from QBE added essential insights into what performance-based approval really requires. Rhiannon Morgan and Matt Dickson walked us through their challenges meeting BASIX with rammed earth, and Peter Hickson shared his own mudbrick home approval journey from the Hunter Valley.

These speakers then joined in a rich panel discussion, sharing hard-won tips and advice for others looking to get their own earth home approved.

The afternoon brought more hands-on workshops, networking, and a relaxing evening of music and connection under the stars.

Sunday: From Theory to Reality

The final day of the conference took us into the field with two amazing site visits:

1. A budget-friendly rammed earth home in Kurrajong, built for under $100K using site-dug materials

2. A flame-zone compliant, cement-free home in Bowen Mountain, showcasing what’s possible even under the toughest bushfire conditions

A Weekend to Remember

This year’s EBAA conference was an absolute highlight—informative, inspiring, and deeply community-driven. It showcased not only what’s possible with earth but what’s already happening in communities across Australia.

Massive thanks to Stephen, Peter, Ray, Lynn, and the entire EBAA team for putting together such a dynamic and welcoming event. Whether you’re a seasoned earth builder or just curious about natural materials, this conference had something for everyone.

I’ll definitely be back!

The Earth Building Association of Australia is a member of NBA and their listing can be found on our Directory