The family who spend their nights in a geodesic dome-home

From the bustling northern beaches of Sydney to 120 acres three-and-a-half hours inland from Byron Bay, Victoria Bowness and fiance Johnny Clapham made a definite tree-change after having baby daughter Anaya, 20-months ago. 

Faced with the prospect of a big mortgage on a tiny Sydney apartment, the couple instead began looking at rural options. They settled on a steep block of land with sweeping mountain views near Tenterfield in northern New South Wales.

“We both had good jobs in Sydney, but we knew if we stayed and took on a huge mortgage, the pressure to work hard to pay off our debts, would also mean we might never see each other or Anaya.

“We both thought, ‘is it worth it?’ and we agreed it wasn’t, so we decided to try and buy something affordable to allow for a much smaller joint income,” Victoria says.

The spectacular views, the serenity, the location to Byron Bay and the price were all factors in drawing them to the Tenterfield property. Their love of nature and a wish to live off-grid was important too. 

“Part of our move to this beautiful and peaceful part of the world was not just for financial reasons, but because we wanted to lessen our environmental footprint and live off-grid.

“Our electricity is 100 per cent solar, we have LPG gas to run the hot water system and stove, we use rainwater, have a composting toilet, and we grow our own veggies where possible.” 

As the nearest shop is a 40-minutes drive away, Victoria and Johnny have to be a lot more prepared when it comes to meal planning and grocery shopping. 

“We no longer have 50 cafes on our doorstep, and we can’t order in takeaway or do online shopping.

“It did take time to get used to it, but we don’t miss those things, and we have saved ourselves a lot of money. It has been a trade-off.

“We love the epic views across to the mountains and waking up every day to the sights and sounds of nature. The silence is in big contrast to our old city life, but we relish the peace.

“Many friends say they couldn’t do a 40-minute drive just for a carton of milk, but they forget that they sit in traffic jams for the same amount of time or more each day!

“It is all about what you are willing to sacrifice and making a mental shift in your mind that there isn’t a coffee shop next door, but that it’s actually okay!”

With an original building on the property that they are slowly renovating, combined with their converted 1984 Toyota van; Victoria and Johnny didn’t need to create additional living space immediately.

Yet after spending time at a geodesic dome retreat for meditation, the couple decided to take the leap and import their own 36 square metre dome to use as their master bedroom and office.

“Johnny assembled the dome in just two days on a platform he built next to the existing building that maximises our beautiful view. The total cost was $US5000.

“All three of us sleep in the dome and are awoken naturally by the sunrise. At night we lie in our king size bed looking up at the stars – it is majestic.”  

The dome is made from marine grade PVC and is connected to the family’s solar electricity supply meaning they can light it up at night time. It has a wood-burning stove and chimney to keep it cosy in the cooler months and ventilation slats that open to allow airflow.

“Aside from the dome’s unique visual appeal, it also has practical advantages for our little family as not only is it our bedroom, but my office. We all get up early and have breakfast in the main house, then I wave goodbye and go to work in the dome, leaving Anaya with Johnny.  

“The internet connection works well, and so I have everything I need to do my job yet I am still close enough for family visits!” 

With a marketing degree and years of experience working at a large creative agency in Sydney, Victoria still works with her previous employer and manages other freelance clients from the Byron and Brisbane areas.  

Together Victoria and Johnny produce content for their Living Free Family YouTube and Instagram channels. 

With plans to further renovate and expand the original building, the family will be busy developing their dream home for a few months yet. 

“Life is very different from how it was in Sydney, but living here has made us grateful for all that we have. This style of living is not for everyone, but we are so happy.”