Kirstie Wulf contributed to the Australian Industrial Hemp Conference Proceedings 2018 with her article The value of hemp shiv for building on Page 220.
| Publication | Australian Industrial Hemp Conference 2018 Conference Proceedings |
| Published by | Agrifutures |
| Author (s) | By Stuart Gordon |
| Date | June 2018 |
| Notes | The value of hemp shiv for building By Kirstie Wulf Page 220 |
| Link | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yxl6vStYzJVrnlyWU8LROOLZ3n2CL6R_ |
Below is a summary of Kirsties contribution to Australian Industrial Hemp Conference Proceedings 2018 By Stuart Gordon.
The Value of Hemp Shiv for Building
For centuries, hemp has been valued as a fibre for rope, paper, and textiles, but its use in construction is less widely known. Historical examples stretch from the hemp-lime plaster of India’s Ellora caves (6th century) to a 300-year-old hemp house in Japan, both still standing today.
Modern hemp building makes use of hemp shiv (hurd), the woody core of the hemp stalk, mixed with lime to form durable, breathable walls. This practice, first reintroduced in France in the 1980s, has since been proven across Europe in historic renovations, residential housing, and even large-scale projects such as Marks & Spencer’s eco-store in the UK.
In Australia, interest in hemp construction grew after legislative changes to hemp production. One of the first hemp homes, built in Tasmania, demonstrated the comfort, efficiency, and compliance of hemp with council building standards. At Shelter Building Design, hemp quickly became a natural choice, combining beauty, thermal performance, and sustainability.
Why build with hemp?
- Thermal performance: Hemp walls provide both insulation and thermal mass, keeping buildings warm in winter and cool in summer.
- Moisture regulation: Hemp is hygroscopic, buffering humidity naturally and reducing condensation risks.
- Carbon storage: Hemp sequesters carbon during growth, locking it into the building fabric far faster than timber.
- Safety & durability: Fire resistant, non-toxic, pest- and mould-resistant, with excellent acoustic qualities.
- Efficiency: Hemp walls replace multiple conventional layers—insulation, plasterboard, wrap, and cladding—simplifying construction.
Building with hemp usually involves the cast in situ method: hemp, lime, and water are mixed and tamped into temporary formwork around a timber frame. Hemp can also be used in prefabricated panels, blocks, or hybrid systems, offering opportunities for faster construction.
While challenges remain—such as sourcing consistent local hemp shiv and training more builders—the opportunities are immense. Prefabricated hemp panels, commercial-scale applications, and innovative block products are all emerging.
Australia already has award-winning hemp homes, with Shelter Building Design proud to contribute to this growing movement. Hemp offers not just a building material, but a pathway to healthier, more sustainable, and energy-efficient homes.
