Powerhouse Place: Australia’s First Public Hempcrete Buildings Lead the Way in Regenerative Design
In a groundbreaking move for sustainable construction, the City of Mildura has unveiled Powerhouse Place — a revitalised riverfront precinct featuring Australia’s first public buildings constructed with hempcrete. The project, led by design studio Public Realm Lab, not only breathes new life into the historic Mildura Powerhouse but also sets a new benchmark for regenerative public infrastructure in Australia.
From History to Vision
With funding secured from the Victorian State Government, Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC) sought to transform its derelict but culturally significant powerhouse site into a thriving community destination. The goals were ambitious: preserve the heritage fabric, activate the space for year-round public use, and ensure operational viability for the long term.
Public Realm Lab was brought on board not just for their expertise in revitalising historic sites, but for their ability to align strategy, culture, and place. Their approach centres on designing spaces that are deeply responsive to community needs — socially, environmentally, and economically.
Place is never neutral. This place is for the people.
Public Realm Lab
A Community Reimagines Its Riverfront
Although initial planning and consultation had already occurred, the project took a bold new direction after Public Realm Lab facilitated a deeper round of community workshops and stakeholder engagement. What emerged was a shared vision for a truly inclusive, flexible, and future-forward precinct.
The result? A new masterplan that reoriented priorities around community-led activation, sustainable design, and long-term adaptability.
Hempcrete Victoria consulted pre-build to Public Realm Lab and Rork Builders. We also carried out the install over a six week period in Mildura. It was also the first commercial project in Australia and the first iteration of curved walls for a commercial project.
Will Brain | Hempcrete Victoria
Hempcrete Hits the Mainstream
At the heart of Powerhouse Place’s innovation are its three new hemp masonry buildings — the first of their kind in public infrastructure across Australia. Made from locally sourced hemp hurd and lime binder, hempcrete is a carbon-sequestering, thermally efficient, and non-toxic building material that aligns with Mildura’s climate and sustainability goals.
“Powerhouse Place sets the precedent for public hemp construction,” says the Public Realm Lab team. “It’s proof that sustainable, regenerative materials can deliver performance, beauty and community value in public works.”
The hempcrete buildings are fully electric and gas-free, powered by a 40kW rooftop solar PV system with a 30kW inverter and a 5kW battery. The precinct also supports active transport through shaded pathways, bike parking, and seamless connections to the CBD and river trails. Enhanced tree canopy coverage and thoughtful landscaping further embed the project in its ecological context.
Recognition and Ripple Effects
Powerhouse Place has already gained accolades at both state and national levels for leadership in sustainable architecture. But perhaps more significantly, the project is now being used in advocacy efforts to promote the broader adoption of hemp construction across Australia.
It stands as a shining example of what can happen when visionary councils, skilled designers, and committed communities come together: heritage is preserved, carbon is locked away, and a new chapter in public architecture begins — one that honours both people and planet.
Kudos to The Australian Hemp Masonry Company for working so hard supplying Aussie materials (for) this project – locally grown and processed building grade hurd and locally manufactured binder – and battling so many obstacles to get the certifications!
Andi Lucas
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