The Vittoria Hemp House Build is now well underway, and the first three videos from site give a clear, grounded look at what hempcrete construction actually involves, not theory, not hype, but real people, real weather, real work.
Filmed in Vittoria, just outside Bathurst in regional New South Wales, these videos capture the early stages of a hempcrete home being built for John and Belinda, long-time farmers transitioning into a highly energy‑efficient, low‑carbon home designed to perform for decades.
Together, the three videos document why people are choosing hempcrete, how it is installed on site, and what volunteers and owner‑builders actually learn by getting their hands dirty.
These videos are supported by by Belubula Hemp Homes
Video 1: Hemping Hands – Learning Hempcrete by Doing
The first video focuses on a Hemping Hands volunteer day, where people travel from across NSW and the ACT to gain practical hempcrete experience.
Rather than classroom instruction, volunteers learn directly on site, mixing, bucketing, placing, and tamping hempcrete into formwork under real conditions.
Several key themes emerge:
- Volunteers are often owner‑builders planning their own hempcrete homes
- The learning curve is surprisingly gentle, especially compared to conventional construction systems
- Seeing the wall revealed at the end of the day helps lock in understanding of tamping pressure, density, and finish
- Many participants describe a shift from abstract sustainability ideas to something tangible: carbon literally locked into the walls
This video highlights one of hempcrete’s strengths, it is accessible. With the right guidance, people without trade backgrounds can safely and effectively participate in the build process.
Video 2: Hempcrete Lessons – Mixing, Process, and Site Discipline
The second video goes deeper into the technical rhythm of the build, effectively functioning as an on‑site hempcrete lesson.
Viewers are walked through:
- The standard mix recipe used on the Vittoria Hemp House Build
- Batch tracking for quality control and documentation
- How output changes as walls rise and physical effort increases
- Why consistency matters more than speed
The video also shows the practical systems that make hempcrete builds smoother, including organised batching boards, dedicated mixing roles, and reusable formwork.
Importantly, this is not presented as a shortcut or “easy build.” It is shown as a methodical, repeatable process that rewards attention and teamwork.
For builders, designers, and serious owner‑builders, this video provides rare insight into how hempcrete is actually managed on a working site.
Video 3: Week Two at Vittoria – Scaling Up the Hemping
By the third video, the Vittoria Hemp House Build has moved into week two, and the pace and confidence on site are clearly increasing.
This video captures:
- Larger wall sections being completed
- Double batching using a hemp paddle mixer
- Belubula Hemp Homes Winched formwork systems that allow walls to rise evenly
- Coordination between mixing, carpentry, and placement
The setting matters here. This is a working farm, with solar already installed on nearby sheds and livestock moving through the landscape. The hempcrete build sits naturally within that context — not as a novelty, but as a logical extension of land stewardship.
By this stage, the structure is beginning to read as a home, not just a construction experiment. You can see how exposed internal walls, rendered external finishes, and integrated services all come together within the hempcrete envelope.
Why the Vittoria Hemp House Build Matters
What makes the Vittoria Hemp House Build significant is not scale or spectacle — it’s credibility.
These first three videos collectively show that:
- Hempcrete is already being used successfully in regional Australia
- Volunteers and owner‑builders can meaningfully participate
- The process is structured, documented, and improving with each day
- Sustainability is embedded in how the building happens, not just the materials used
For anyone researching hempcrete in Australia — whether for a future build, professional development, or general education — this series offers an honest reference point.
Watch the Series
The three videos are rolling out and will be fully released by 1st February and form the foundation of an ongoing documentation of the Vittoria Hemp House Build.
They are supported by Belubula Hemp Homes and the Hemp Building Directory, which connects people with hemp building contacts while providing education and advocacy across Australia and New Zealand.
The build is delivered by Belubula Hemp Homes, led by award‑winning builder James Isaacs, whose systems and experience are visible throughout the series.
More videos from the Vittoria Hemp House Build will be released as the project progresses, covering additional walls, finishes, and lessons learned on site.
If you are considering hempcrete — or simply want to understand how low‑carbon construction works in practice — this is a build worth following.
