Beautifully built tiny homes for the Australian way of life.
Welcome to Ruru Tiny Homes Australia
We’ve spent seven years building some of New Zealand’s most loved tiny homes — and now we’re bringing that same craftsmanship, ethics, and heart to Australia in 2026.
🏛 Ruru is the official Industry Partner of a University of Queensland research project into sustainable timber construction for small homes, led by Associate Professor Joe Gattas — the only tiny home company in Australia to hold this recognition.
Ruru offers two ways to live tiny:
Tiny Homes on Wheels — designed and built by our team in our Queensland workshop using Australian-sourced materials. No building consent required. Delivered to your land.
Small Dwellings on Foundations — designed by Ruru, built in our yard by a QBCC-licensed builder under contract to us. Council-approvable, rentable, and eligible for mainstream financing. Delivered to site.
Every Ruru home is built with integrity — above living wage pay, Australian-sourced materials, transparent fixed pricing, and in-house expert guidance on council and consent pathways.
Our Designs
A selection of previous projects. Our Queensland Tiny Homes will be handcrafted in the Greater Brisbane Area using Australian-sourced materials. Every Ruru home is designed for real life - beautiful, practical, and built to last.
The Brolga - double storey, 10x3 or 12x3 - 2-3 BDR
The Wren - single storey, 10x3 or 12x3 - 1-2 BDR
The Lorikeet - single storey, 10x4 to 14x4.
The Kookaburra - single storey, 10x3 or 12x3 - 1-2 BDR
The Wedgetail - single storey, 10x4 or 12x4 - 1-2 BDR.
The Cassowary - double storey, 12x3 - 3-4 BDR.
Meet Fran & Daniel
We're Fran and Daniel Huelsmeyer — and we actually lived in a tiny home ourselves. A 12×3m double storey, with our four sons and our dog. So when we say we understand tiny living, we mean it from the inside out.
Fran brings a background in communications, marketing, and PR, alongside seven years building Ruru Tiny Homes in New Zealand into a nationally trusted brand. Daniel, a former overseas barrister who has just completed a Masters of Law at the University of Auckland, brings a sharp mind and deep expertise in consent pathways and council processes.
We don't just build homes. We build them with integrity — Australian-sourced materials, above living wage pay, and a flat team culture where every person matters. We moved to Australia to bring this way of building here, because Australians deserve it too.
why Ruru
Built in Australia, for Australia Our tiny homes on wheels are handcrafted in Queensland using Australian-sourced materials. Our secondary dwellings are built by QBCC-licensed builders working to our designs and standards. No imports, no shortcuts.
A family who knows tiny For years we lived in a 12×3m double storey tiny home ourselves — with four kids and a dog. We know from the inside out what makes a tiny home truly liveable.
We’re with you the whole way. For many of our clients, going tiny means a significant life change — downsizing, starting fresh, a new chapter. We don't just build your home. We take the time, have the conversations, and make sure the whole journey feels as good as the destination. Transparent pricing, and no hidden costs. We believe how you build matters as much as what you build.
The only timber-framed tiny home builder in Australia. Every other tiny home builder in Australia uses steel. We use timber — because it's warmer, more sustainable, and produces a genuinely better home. Our commitment to timber is recognised by the University of Queensland, where Ruru holds a formal Industry Partnership for research into sustainable timber construction.
We find your land. Every Ruru client gets access to our in-house land search and match service — at no cost. We connect you with landowners across Queensland who are open to leasing to tiny home owners. You don't have to figure out the land puzzle alone.
Not sure where to start? We walk you through everything — land, approvals, design, build, and delivery.
We fly you to us. If you're ready to commit but want to see a Ruru home in person first, we'll book your flight to our Queensland yard. No conditions, no catch. We know it's a big decision.