Following a surge of interest in building with straw bales, Ausbale - the Australian and New Zealand Straw Bale Building Association - have designated Sunday 27th November 2005 as the inaugural national Straw Bale House Day.

To mark this historic occasion a swag of straw bale houses have been organised to be thrown open to the public and anyone interested in finding out more about the economic and environmental advantages of building with straw bale.

You could do a lot worse than mark the third Sunday in November in your diary and get along to see one of the houses that will be open near you on that day.

There will be at least one house open in every state and territory in Australia and in the north and south islands in New Zealand.

Chris Newton, the Queensland based President of Ausbale, has been overwhelmed by the positive response she has received to the launch of Straw Bale House Day and is looking forward to it becoming a major national event at which some of the best and most innovative new houses in Australia and New Zealand can be showcased to a wider public audience.

"This is a great opportunity" she said when announcing the launch "for straw bale house owners, builders and designers to show what can be achieved with straw bale building, and for them to be on hand to explain the many advantages that straw bale building can bring to the building process". Make sure to book the date in your diary now and happy baling.

Entry donation of $5 per person to go towards the research for a straw bale building standard.

The following houses were open from 10am - 4pm on November 27th:

Owner: Yvonne Bradford
Owners: Tim and Jane Cox
Owner: Brian Hodge
Owners: Lance and Gae Kairl About our place: Situated on 10 Acres Lance and Gae have built a 2 Story straw bale home. The house is passive solar in design and incorperates solar power, solar hot water, composting toilet and on site waste water treatment. This home is a fine example of what can be done with hard work, time and a realistic budget.