Kit home ideal for remote building site

A kit home was a logical choice for home builders Alan and Joanne Heading of Central Queensland, who live fifty kilometres from the nearest large town and couldn’t easily make visits to the nearest building supply store.

All the materials that we needed were delivered on site, cut to size and ready to assemble,” Joanne said.

The Headings graze cattle on their remote 2500 acres. Alan worked most of his life in the mining industry, but was originally from the land.

With grown-up children and grandchildren, the couple wanted a house that was big enough to accommodate everyone. The house boasts four bedrooms (three with walk-in robes), a sewing room, study and an Al Fresco area for outdoor entertaining.

The couple project-managed their new home, contracting builder Shane Timmer and his employees to construct it. Joanne and Alan lived onsite in a shed, while Shane moved his entire family and workers onto the property, sharing a caravan and tent.

“Shane did a wonderful job. He said it came together like Meccano and commented that it was a structurally very sound house,” Joanne said.

The fully insulated home means that even in mid-winter, Alan and Joanne haven’t had to turn on the heating. “It’s wonderfully warm, even when walking on the floor tiles.”

While building from a kit was an attractive proposition because of the distance of the Headings’ property from the nearest town, it was the charm and style of Paal’s designs, rather than the very practical considerations of distance, that initially won them over. “We loved the look and layout of the Richmond,” she said.

The Headings held an Open House upon completion, with visitors coming from far and wide to inspect the new home.

“The visitors were very impressed. In particular, they were surprised by the size of the rooms and the open-plan living area. It certainly is a lovely home, spacious and beautiful.”