Blog
All 18 articles on this site, organised by topic — our own journey, planning, animals, and growing across Australia's climate zones.
Our Journey
Why We Built Holly's Homestead
We built Holly's Homestead because helpful Australian homesteading information was scattered everywhere, so we built one structured place instead.
Our First Year Working Toward Off-Grid: What We Got Wrong
Our biggest early mistakes weren't dramatic — underestimating water storage, overplanting before we'd built the systems to use it, and rushed fencing.
Homestead Planning
Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency Calculators: Which Tool Do You Need?
A complete guide to every homesteading calculator and planning tool on this site — what each does, when to use it, and examples used together.
How to Use Holly's Homestead: A Real Family-of-Three, 2-Acre Self-Sufficiency Plan
A step-by-step walkthrough of every tool on this site through one scenario — a family of three planning a self-sufficient 2-acre Victorian property.
Homesteading in Australia: The Complete Guide
Homesteading in Australia means growing food, keeping animals, and building self-sufficiency, adapted specifically to Australia's own climate zones.
The Real Cost of Setting Up a Homestead in Australia
A modest first-year homestead setup realistically runs from a few thousand dollars for a small block to well over $20,000 for a larger rural property.
How Much Land Do You Actually Need to Be Self-Sufficient in Australia?
Most Australian households can reach meaningful self-sufficiency on well-managed blocks between 0.5 and 2 acres — how the land is used matters most.
State & Territory Rules
Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules in Australia: A General Guide
Every Australian state allows backyard poultry, but specific numbers and zoning are set by council, not state law — rules vary block to block.
Land & Water Rules in Australia: A General Guide
Dams, irrigation and farm structures sit under separate approval systems in every state — a state-by-state guide to what to check and where.
Power & Wastewater Rules in Australia: A General Guide
Off-grid power and septic systems sit under separate approval systems in every state — a state-by-state guide to what to check and where.
Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules in Australia: A General Guide
Selling produce, running a home business, and farm-stay accommodation sit under separate approval systems in every state — a state-by-state guide to what to check and where.
NSW Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
NSW's state default is 5 fowl and no roosters on standard residential land, a 4.5m coop setback, and egg-selling notification once you're selling.
NSW Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Dam harvestable rights and MHRDC, WaterNSW irrigation licensing, and 20m²/50m² shed exemption thresholds, explained at the state level.
NSW Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Three electricity distributors with a stricter rural export limit, and the two-stage council septic approval process, explained at the state level.
NSW Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
The Food Authority licence threshold, Codes SEPP home business exemption, and the 2022 Agritourism Code, explained at the state level.
QLD Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Queensland's state layer is the Animal Care and Protection Act and biosecurity PIC registration — council bird-number limits vary widely by area.
QLD Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Water Act 2000 state-owned water rights, supplemented vs unsupplemented allocations, and a 200m farm building shed exemption, explained at the state level.
QLD Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Just two electricity distributors with a distinctly low SWER-line rural export limit, and the 20-person council/state wastewater approval threshold.
QLD Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
The Food Act 2006 licence categories, council-set planning thresholds, and the 25 hectare rural worker accommodation exemption.
VIC Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Victoria has no single state-wide bird-count default — council numbers range from 4 to 20 — but a Property ID Code applies statewide at 50+ birds.
VIC Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Regional water corporations, rural-residential dam registration, and a building-permit-first approach to farm sheds, explained at the state level.
VIC Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Five electricity distributors, a solar emergency backstop mechanism, and the Land Capability Assessment septic requirement, explained at the state level.
VIC Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
The FoodTrader statewide registration platform, Clause 52.11, and Farming Zone bed and breakfast conditions, explained at the state level.
WA Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
WA's state trigger is clear-cut: 50+ poultry requires livestock owner registration and a PIC with DPIRD, under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
WA Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Proclaimed water areas under the RIWI Act, 5C/26D DWER licensing, and Building Regulations 2012 shed thresholds, explained at the state level.
WA Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Western Power's new May 2026 export pathway choice, and the Department of Health's 540L/day wastewater approval threshold, explained at the state level.
WA Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
The home business/home occupation planning split, and the new statewide STRA reform exempting hosted short-term rentals.
SA Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
SA has the strictest PIC rule of any state — no exemptions, even one animal needs registration — plus a single state-wide Planning and Design Code.
SA Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Prescribed water areas, DEW licensing, the Mount Lofty Ranges dam moratorium, and Accepted Development shed thresholds, explained at the state level.
SA Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
A single distributor with the country's first Flexible Exports system, and the highest wastewater council-approval threshold of any state, explained at the state level.
SA Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
The Food Act 2001 notification system and the single statewide Planning and Design Code's Home-based Business provisions.
TAS Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Tasmania sets no state-wide bird limit — the state layer is welfare standards, plus compulsory beekeeper registration under the Biosecurity Act 2019.
TAS Land & Water Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Water Management Act dam works permits, water licensing, and notably generous 108m² rural shed exemptions, explained at the state level.
TAS Power & Wastewater Rules: What the State Actually Sets
State-owned TasNetworks with the most generous 10kW export limit of any state, and council-administered wastewater approval at every scale.
TAS Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the State Actually Sets
Tiered egg-selling thresholds, and the Tasmanian Planning Scheme's home business and visitor accommodation Use Classes.
NT & ACT Backyard & Small-Acreage Livestock Rules: What the Territories Actually Set
NT requires a PIC for poultry regardless of flock size, stricter than most states — while the ACT sets no numeric limit, using a Welfare Code instead.
NT & ACT Land & Water Rules: What the Territories Actually Set
NT water control districts and a clear small-dam exemption, plus the ACT's leasehold system where water rights only attach to rural leases.
NT & ACT Power & Wastewater Rules: What the Territories Actually Set
Three isolated NT grids not connected to the NEM, and the ACT's new Evoenergy total-export-limit model from February 2025.
NT & ACT Selling, Home Business & Farm-Stay Rules: What the Territories Actually Set
NT's Priority risk classification with multiple parallel approvals, and the ACT's explicit itemised low-risk food list.
Animals
Growing & Climate
Companion Planting: What Actually Works (And What's Garden Folklore)
Some companion planting pairings have a explainable mechanism behind them, while others are folklore repeated with little evidence either way.
Cool Temperate vs Subtropical: How Growing Really Differs Across Australia
The same crop has a completely different growing calendar in Hobart versus Brisbane — climate zone changes timing more than general advice accounts for.
Guide Companion Articles
197 full-length articles, one for every grow, animal, and how-to guide.