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150 Year Old Carbon Negative Terrace Homes in Fitzroy
Fitzroy’s carbon-negative heritage restorations that blend history with performance.
In the heart of Fitzroy stand two terrace homes that may be among the most sustainable in Australia. Built around 1874, these 150-year-old properties had fallen into disrepair. One remained empty for more than thirty years. Today, both homes operate as carbon-negative residences and appear on the shortlist for three HIA GreenSmart Awards.
Our team at Sustainable Homes Melbourne partnered with Robert Nicol & Sons Architects, a collaboration that spans nearly a decade. Together, we transformed these heritage buildings into high-performance homes that celebrate history while embracing innovation.
Each residence preserves the essence of Victorian-era craftsmanship and introduces a new chapter in sustainable design for Melbourne.
The restoration began with two neglected shells that retained only their bluestone footings, double brick walls, and chimneys. We kept as much of the original structure as possible, including the cast iron fences, lacework above the verandas, and tessellated tiles at the entry.
Inside, we reconfigured the layout to create three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and open-plan living spaces upstairs that connect to a sunlit outdoor terrace. Beneath, car access includes EV charging and Tesla battery storage for each home.
Preserving the historic charm required precision. The north terrace kept its render finish with block lines, while the south terrace maintained its tuckpointed brickwork. Every choice reflected our goal of retaining heritage character while ensuring long-term performance and comfort for the residents.
Sustainability means more than adding solar panels or improving insulation. For these homes, we measured every element of performance.
We completed a whole-of-home post-occupancy assessment using the latest NatHERS model to evaluate real-world outcomes. The results exceeded expectations.
The northern home consumes 3.9 tonnes of CO₂ per year but offsets 4.95 tonnes through renewable generation. The southern home, slightly smaller but even more efficient, consumes 3.68 tonnes and offsets 7.3 tonnes. Combined, these homes remove the equivalent of five cars from Melbourne’s roads each year and save nearly $4,000 in annual energy costs.
Over a projected 100-year lifespan, they will offset 1,200 tonnes of carbon, roughly equal to the weight of seven blue whales. These results demonstrate that carbon-negative design can succeed even within heritage constraints.
Our team tackled both operational and embodied carbon to ensure complete sustainability.
Concrete typically contributes the most to embodied carbon in construction. To lower emissions, we selected Pronto Eco 3, a low-carbon concrete mix containing 40% supplementary materials like fly ash, 25% manufactured sand, and 85% recycled water. This approach reduced environmental impact while maintaining structural strength.
We reused and recycled materials throughout the build. Our team salvaged original bricks, cleaned them, and relaid them into the structure. We incorporated recycled messmate timber, sourced from old Australian hardwood framing, for floors, ceilings, balustrades, and privacy screens. This timber, impossible to source new today, gives each home warmth, texture, and durability.
By managing waste carefully and sourcing locally, we minimized transport emissions and resource depletion.
These homes perform exceptionally well while providing year-round comfort. Both achieved NatHERS ratings above 7 stars, 7.9 for the north and 7.1 for the south.
We installed a continuous insulation layer, high-performance double-glazed UPVC windows by BINQ, and a heat recovery ventilation system that keeps humidity and air quality balanced in all seasons.
Underfloor areas include R2.5 polyester insulation, while the extensions feature R1 XPS insulation under the screed slabs. Walls contain Kooltherm K17 insulated plasterboard, increasing the R-value of double brick walls to R3.5. Roofs reach R6 insulation with vapor-permeable membranes that allow moisture to escape while keeping the weather out.
These design choices create airtight yet breathable homes that maintain ideal indoor conditions naturally and efficiently.
Architecture shapes how people experience space. For these homes, we focused on warmth, usability, and continuity between the old and the new.
Upstairs, recycled messmate timber ceilings combine with angled and flat rooflines to define different zones: intimate in the kitchen, open in the living area. The kitchens feature stainless steel benchtops and splashbacks for durability and hygiene, while fiberglass mesh decking allows natural light to reach the level below.
We crafted curved brickwork and steel handrails to soften the structure and make the spaces feel welcoming. External blinds and Heka Hoods manage Melbourne’s strong sunlight, providing thermal control while maintaining visual harmony.
Every detail, from the texture of a wall to the grain of recycled timber, reflects our commitment to craftsmanship that endures.
These terrace restorations prove that heritage and sustainability can thrive together. We preserved their historic soul while giving them a new purpose as carbon-negative, high-performance homes.
Projects like this show that the future of sustainable design lies not in abandoning history but in learning from it. By blending traditional building principles with modern performance technology, we can create homes that respect the past and protect the planet.
The Fitzroy terraces now stand as living examples of what’s possible when care, creativity, and responsibility come together.
