Newcastle Man Buys Former Sydney Bus To Beat Skyrocketing Rent

5 February 2025

Newcastle resident, IT analyst and single father, Mr Stu Hartshorn from Carrington, has taken the extraordinary step of purchasing a decommissioned Sydney bus to convert into a fully off-grid home for himself and his two sons in a bold stand against ever-rising housing costs,

After facing four evictions in five years and sinking a staggering $650 each week into rent, Mr Hartshorn decided he had enough. “At $650 a week, that’s $33,800 a year going nowhere. I’m done with it,” he said. “It’s time to get ahead by thinking differently.”

The centrepiece of this unconventional plan is a Scania L113CRL Ansair Orana, a former commuter workhorse on Sydney’s bustling routes. Rather than funnelling funds into yet another rental, Mr Hartshorn aims to transform the bus into a moveable home complete with solar power, lithium batteries, and a fully self-sufficient electrical system.

“Instead of wasting money on utilities, I’ll invest in solar panels, batteries, and inverters,” he explained. “Mechanical work and off-grid power are my hobbies, so this is my dream project.”

Plans for the ‘bus home’ include water storage, rooftop solar panels generating around three kilowatts of power, and multiple batteries for energy storage. Hartshorn sees this solution as more than just a hobby; it’s his family’s chance to become independent from pricey bills and the whims of the rental market.

The father of two has received widespread encouragement from friends and social media followers, many commending his forward-thinking approach. “We’re all excited to follow Stu’s progress,” said one friend. “He’s turning a tough situation into an adventure.”Though full renovations are still in the pipeline, Mr Hartshorn claims this project represents a shift in mindset as much as a shift in living arrangements. “It’s 2025,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to step sideways to move forward.”

Hartshorn hopes others will feel encouraged to explore similar creative alternatives if they find themselves stretched thin by rental pressures. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking control of your life,” he noted. “For me and my kids, that control comes on four wheels with a bus licence.”

Newcastle’s rental market is among the tightest in the country, with vacancy rates hovering at historic lows. This scarcity has driven prices up, leaving many renters struggling to secure stable housing. The rising cost of living, coupled with wage stagnation, has seen more households forced into precarious living situations or pushed out of the city altogether.

The housing crisis has manifested in multiple ways: rents have skyrocketed, eviction rates have climbed, and affordable housing options remain scarce. Even those who can afford to rent face uncertainty, with properties frequently being sold or landlords increasing prices beyond tenants’ means.

For individuals like Mr Hartshorn, these pressures have made traditional homeownership or long-term renting increasingly unrealistic. The uncertainty surrounding rental security, fluctuating market conditions, and the cost of maintaining a roof over one’s head have left many looking for alternative solutions.

With no clear resolution to the crisis in sight, projects like Hartshorn’s bus conversion highlight the lengths people are willing to go to reclaim stability and autonomy in an unpredictable housing market.