Make it a feature

Designed by Melbourne architecture firm Pleysier Perkins, this beach house on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is incredibly private – besides the odd surfer, there’s barely a soul to be seen on the sand. This level of seclusion makes an out-in-the-open outdoor shower a very feasible proposition. The homeowners have opted for a striking freestanding Seletti ‘Aquart’ copper and concrete outdoor shower. And because of the isolated location, the concrete base can simply drain into the surrounding garden.

Many of us dreamt of having a treehouse throughout our childhood, yet very few actually had the pleasure of enjoying one 24/7. Fortunately, building a treehouse at home for your children isn’t as hard as you might think, but you do require council approval, particularly if it will have a view into a neighbouring yard.

1 cost

According to Kellie Macpherson, director of Castle & Cubby in Byron Bay, a treehouse can be a budget-friendly operation at around $3500 if you build it yourself. If you hire tradespeople or a treehouse company to do the project, you might be looking at a spend of $5000 or more, depending on the size and complexity of the structure.

“Our team are all qualified carpenters,” Kellie explains, “but if you want a DIY treehouse, all you need is a basic knowledge of carpentry principles.”

If you are going for something more elaborate, she recommends getting a good idea of your child’s play style before choosing a design. “Some children want a space they can hide away from the world in, while others want a more open design. Our favourite design features are a trapdoor entry with a rope ladder that can be pulled up and stored away. It can give kids the sense that this is their own adult-free world – it’s important to appeal to your child’s imagination.”

2 site

First, you’ll need to choose a tree. Pick one that is robust, healthy and free from parasites and disease. The roots should run deep into the ground and be expansive. A good rule of thumb is, a tree trunk with a 30cm diameter should hold a platform no bigger than 2.5m x 2.5m. “You need the perfect tree to support a treehouse,” says Kellie. “But it’s very rare for a tree to support the whole thing and you can quite easily kill a tree by building into it. It’s better to have the structure supported by posts in the ground and have a corner anchored to the tree to give that feeling of being among the trees, rather than the tree taking the whole load.”

Once you’ve found the perfect tree, you’ll need to get an arborist’s report stating the maximum load the tree can hold and the estimated longevity of the tree, plus a geotechnical report to determine if the ground around the tree is stable enough to take the proposed load. You’ll also need to check the building-height restrictions with your local council (usually about 8.5m) and include the height of your treehouse in the report. Then it’s a case of submitting it to your local council for approval, as per any proposed residential development.

3 materials & construction

Once you have approval to build your treehouse, it’s time to buy the materials. Most treehouses are made from timber, and Australian hardwoods are best as they can be resistant to most common issues, including termites. Remember that stairs, railings and balustrades will need to comply with Australian building codes, and you should avoid strangling the tree with ropes and grips. “It’s important to plan your building design and materials, and try to use as many recycled materials as possible,” says Kellie. “If you are building the treehouse yourself, get the kids involved and have them help you source materials for the build, or find the play items to go inside the treehouse.”

Choose a robust, healthy tree and get all the reports done