About the Everingham Rotating House

The Everingham rotating house is a 24-metre diameter octagon with a 3-metre, 360-degree verandah. The exterior walls are mostly glass and steel, and it has a COLORBOND® roof.

The entire structure, weighing approximately 50 tonnes, rotates up to 360-degrees if and when desired, within a 180 degree retainer wall and a 180 degree fixed deck and railing.

The concept is the result of nearly a decade of intermittent research, planning and design, and ten months of construction over a two year period consuming all disposable time. The project was completed in March 2006.

The idea was born when our neighbours were expounding the virtues of their new home and commented that if they could start again they would orientate the house 15 degrees more to the north. Deb said “Wouldn't it be handy to have a house that could move?”.

Immediately I started to think. Weight? The average house would weigh approximately 20-30 tonnes, or about 1 tonne per square. Weight is not difficult – ancient mechanical and structural engineering. Shape? The conventional rectangular prism would not be suitable. After experimenting with scale drawings to investigate octagonal and circular shapes, I was pleasantly surprised. A number of preliminary designs and layouts were created.

At this stage we sat on it for many years on the assumption that the cost would be prohibitive.

In mid 2002, we decided that our 87-year-old white ant-ravaged farm house was beyond renovation and started to investigate new house options. We were somewhat shocked at the cost and how mundane the end result would be compared to our “Everingham Rotating House” design.

In January 2003, research into the cost of the project commenced, and 6 weeks later we came up with an estimation that it would not cost any more to construct than a conventional house of a similar size and level of appointment.

The construction of the house would not have been possible without the assistance of the Coastline Credit Union in Taree. The standard banks did not have the appropriate computer pigeon holes to cater for our particular circumstances. The Credit Union were prepared to consider our application on its own merits.

By December 2003 we had organised finance and construction certificates. Building commenced!

The entire design concept has been firmly based on the following principles:

• The cost must not exceed that of a conventional house of the same size and level of appointment;
• The layout and finish must be highly functional;
• The end result must require very little maintenance;
• The house must be white ant proof;
• The rotating aspect must allow the occupants to maximise exploitation of weather conditions, seasonal conditions and outstanding 360-degree views.

Features of the house

The octagonal nature of the house allows for irregularly-shaped rooms with a lot more space than most conventional houses.

Windows and glass doors constitute a large part of the exterior walls, in order to take advantage of both the views and the warmth of the sun.

The wrap-around verandah is a hardwood timber deck, 3 metres wide.

The exterior walls: vertical corrugated COLORBOND®.

The interior walls: predominantly Gyprock.

The mechanics: 200-tonne central bearing, 32 outrigger wheels and two 500-watt electric motors attached to reduction gearboxes and drive-wheels.

Insulation: CSR Bradford 2.5 Anticon roof insulation, all internal and external walls use the R32 sound screen wall batts and 100ml thick ceiling batts throughout the ceiling.

Geothermal piping 120 metres long and 2.5 metres deep supplies a constant 22oc to the house through the central core.

Roofing: COLORBOND®.