the owner builder 1990-1999 37-96

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 1996 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 77

9 770728 722003

05

Print Post Approved by Australia Post. Publication No. 326764/00022.

Straw bale housing in Australia Soils for mud brick making Planning solar power systems Permaculture chook house Pole frame houses

The Owner Builder Magazine 2

Inside...

POLE FRAME HOUSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Houses that offer adventures in space

MUD BRICK SOILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Choosing the right soil for good bricks

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Bachelor pad becomes a family home

1996 ~ THE YEAR OF THE CHOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Brendan O’Donoghue’s fine chook house

STRAWBALE HOUSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Examples are beginning to show up in Australia

SOLAR POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Planning to get the best out of a system

FOUR LITTLE PYRAMIDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46A fine example of modular housing

THE GAZEBO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55A little building for the garden

The Owner Builder Magazine

© Copyright 1996

66 Broadway,Dunolly Vic 3472

Australia

Telephone/Fax(054) 681 899

Editors:Val & Russell Andrews

Publishers:Russell Andrews

& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).

Art Director:Toni Lumsden

Printers:Australian Print Group

76 Nelson Street, Maryborough, 3465

Print Post Approved Publication No.

326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225

Distributed to newsagents by:

Gordon & Gotch Ltd

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Line ads & letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

House tours/coming events . . . . . . 25

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH

Peter and Michelle Allington’s stone house.

A bachelor pad that’s now home to a family of eight.

See page 18.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine DECEMBER 1996 - JANUARY 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 78

Mud brick making techniquesHousing for your batteries

An elegant shade houseLoft house plansA pre-cast cellar

Termite traps

Great

Chris

tmas

Back

Issues

Offer!!

9 770728 722003

06


Inside...

JOHN & COLLEEN’S PLACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7If this is the shed, we can’t wait to see the house.

TERMITE TRAPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14You’ve heard of bait boxes? here’s the detail.

NO ORDINARY DECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18A very functional piece of beautiful building.

MUD BRICK MAKING TECHNIQUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25An in depth look at methods for the owner builder.

LOFT HOUSE PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Looking for a loft house design? This may appeal.

AN ELEGANT SHADE HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Every garden should have one.

A CELLAR FOR ALL SEASONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36It could also double as a bushfire shelter

LIVING NEAR THE EDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Pole frame muddie at Werribee Gorge


© Copyright 1996


Australia


Editors:Val & Russell Andrews


& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Line ads & letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Subscriptions/Christmas offer . . 40

Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58


John and Colleen’s fabulous drape roofed shed, north west

of Auckland, NZ.See page 18.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine FEBRUARY – MARCH 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 79

Earth building the cob wayPolished concrete bench tops

Passive solar stone houseBuilding in stages

9 770728 722003

01



Inside...

MARGARET & NORVAL’S PLACE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A passive solar

WORKING WITH HEAVY TIMBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13The first in a series by Rob Hadden

EARTH BUILDING – THE COB WAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24An ancient and easy form of earth building

POLISHED CONCRETE BENCHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Beautiful benches at an affordable price

JIMSON GULLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Wilson and Caroline’s beautiful stone house

BUILDING IN STAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Where will you live while building?

THE CHOOK PALACE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Build with just bush timber and thatch

SPACE EFFICIENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53A dual occupancy that works


© Copyright 1997


Australia


Editors:Valerie & Russell Andrews


& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58


A tribute to the start small and let it grow principle.

See Gary Kruithof’s article on page 40.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine APRIL – MAY 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 80

◆ Australian straw bale house◆ Building a water garden◆ Earth wall surface coatings◆ Working with heavy

timbers

9 770728 722003

02


$500stone studio!

Inside...

Straw Bale Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Building with what’s readily available

Making Mud Bricks in Desert Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Working with lighter soils

Demystifying Energy Efficient Design. . . . . . . . . . . .19Answers to questions you may be asking

Framing with Heavy Timbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23The second in a series by Rob Hadden – the Scribing Technique

After the Overflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30...or how to build a water garden

A Studio for Granny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38...and it only cost $500

Traditional Surface Coverings on Earth Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Re-discovering some traditional methods

Deb & Chris’s house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Built in stages as and when needed


© Copyright 1997


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58


Our visit to the environmental technology expo in Kangaroo

Valley was opportunity to visit some fine owner built homes.

This was one of them.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine JUNE – JULY 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 81

◆ Independent power systems in winter◆ Restoration of mud brick walls

◆ Earth berm house◆ Simulated sandstone

◆ The 68-day house

9 770728 722003

03



Inside...

Earth berm house in Capel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Low maintenance, energy efficient and cyclone-proof

Preparing your independent powersystem for winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12How to get the best out of your system

Framing with heavy timbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18The third in a series by Rob Hadden – the square rule

Restoration & maintenance of mud brick walls . .22Some handy tips for re-rendering adobe walls

The owner builder as project manager . . . . . . . . . . .27Sub-contracting an earth house in New Zealand

Simulated sandstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34If you don’t have the real thing, make it!

Installing windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36It’s easy when you know how

The 68-day house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Built with mostly recycled materials in just over two months

The beach house. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53A cosy muddie by the sea


© Copyright 1997


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

REGULAR FEATURESIn House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

FRONT & BACK COVER PHOTOGRAPHS

The Elson family’s earth berm house in south-west

Western Australia. See Annie Mayo’s article on page 6.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 82

◆ Thoughts on straw bale building

◆ Mud brick construction details

◆ Restoring stone ruins ◆ Costing owner built houses

9 770728 722003

04



One owner builder’s dreaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Having a creative dream is a good place to start.

Thoughts on straw bale building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11It’s time to take a serious look.

Mud brick building in South Africa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18A first hand up-to-date account.

Tools required for heavy timber framing . . . . . . . . . . .21Rob Hadden talks about the right tools for the job.

Saving stone ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Can historic ruins become homes again?

Starting with the bathroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Well, you’ve got to start somewhere!

How much will it cost me to build? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Know where you’re going before you start.

Earth building Standards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44What ever happened to them?

Some alternative ideas for post and beamconstruction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Big timbers are not the only way to go.

New life for ancient fossils. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Working with limestone can reveal more than hidden talents.


© Copyright 1997


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING &

EDITORIAL COPY FOR NEXT ISSUE

August 29

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSAll by Neil McLeod.

Front: Giant tree trunks mark the entry to Neil’s home.

Back: A wheely good loo.See our cover story on p.6.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 1997 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 83

◆ Straw bale house ◆ New life for old cottages ◆ Earth building choices

◆ Hints on laying stone ◆ Ferro cement home◆ Heavy timber joinery

9 770728 722003

05



Blame it on the donkey! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Looking for a donkey led to buying a house.

Free form ferro... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Plastering a house using straw bale forms.

The mortice and tenon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17This goes with that...

Earthworks – a working support network. . . . . . . . . .20Creating community by home building together.

Straw bale house at Toodyay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23One man’s approach to straw bale building.

Earth building for owner builders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Should you use mud brick, rammed earth or cob?

Margaret & Arthur’s place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30It took strong hands & inventive minds.

Stonemasonry for the initiate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Helpful hints from a craftsman in stone.

Ecological timber frame self-build in Britain . . . . . .43News from the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.

New life for an old cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Extending what you’ve got can be the solution.


© Copyright 1997


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



October 17

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads, Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: The Prest family home.

Read about it on page 6.

Back: Sculpture by Trefor Prest.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine DECEMBER 1997 – JANUARY 1998 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 84

◆ Building a job ◆ A blacksmith’s craft ◆ More on heavy

timber framing

◆ Straw bale gazebo ◆ House recycling and

retrofitting◆ Being crazy

together

9 770728 722003

06




© Copyright 1997


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



December 19

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Coming events & letters . . . . . . . . . . 15Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: House in a rainforest

where nature provides outside privacy.

Back: Walled courtyard pro-viding outdoor privacy to a

suburban home. See“Courting the great outdoors” page 11.

Inside...

Building a job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Using your skills to create home-based employment.

Courting the great outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Another sort of living room – without the roof.

Twin worlds and suntraps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17His space, her space – with sunny spaces in between.

Heavy timber framing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23The last in a series by Rob Hadden.

Straw bale gazebo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27A starter project to hone your skills on.

The craft of a blacksmith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Forging a link with good design.

Being crazy together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40The Maffra Avon home builders club story.

Experiment revisited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43A mud brick dome and vault building – 15 years down the track.

House recycling and retrofitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Creating equity and saving energy.

It’s all a matter of balance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Designing harmony into a small studio workshop.

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine FEBRUARY – MARCH 1998 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 85

◆ Home in a city factory ◆ Hand made parquetry

◆ Poured earth ◆ Straw bale

in the suburbs ◆ Dry stone walling◆ Building a dome◆ Inside out brick

veneer◆ Plans without

problems

9 770728 722003

01



Inner city house. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6An old factory that’s become an owner builder’s opportunity.

Poured earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11It’s not mud brick and it’s not rammed earth.

Home made parquetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Enjoy the quietness of concrete and the warmth of wood.

Plans without problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Get it right on paper first. Save building alterations later.

Rambling rubble walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25The ancient art of dry stone walling explained.

Inside out brick veneer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30It makes so much sense to put the bricks on the inside.

Building a Coptic dome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39A little bit of Egypt comes to down town Adelaide.

Bales in the ‘burbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Straw bale building makes it to the suburbs.

A slow but sure progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Ian Rooke’s imaginative home at Margaret River.


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



February 20

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSBelinda and John Morgan’s

inside out brick veneer home. See story on p. 30.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine APRIL – MAY 1998 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 86

◆ Earth and stone floors◆ Tree roots and foundations ◆ Joints in rammed earth◆ An artist’s studio◆ Earth sheltered muddie◆ Cable balustrades



Donn Groom’s Hokianga house. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Residential sculpture in stone, earth and ferro cement.

Bliss at the mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12A mud, cement and stone floor that worked.

Owner building as a way of life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17A mortgage-free way of creating home.

Construction joints in rammed earth walls . . . . . . . .25Why have them and where do they go?

Mexico comes to Margaret River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30A limestone house at Margaret River.

The Wave workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Where wonders are worked with wood.

A home amongst the trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40The effects of tree roots on foundations.

For the love of timber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44What else does a woodwork teacher use?

Every artist deserves a studio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53So why not a beautiful one?


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



April 17

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Donn Groom’s

residential sculpture takes shape in the Hokianga, NZ.Back: Chris Senior (L) and

Lachie Gales try their hand at rammed earth at the MADEC

summer school last year.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine JUNE – JULY 1998 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 87

◆ Suburban renovations◆ Owner built rammed earth house

◆ Cooling with the sun◆ Award winning

owner builders



Organic architecture and the real oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6You’ve heard of organic farming – this is organic building.

Suburban renovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Making the most of a 1950’s weatherboard.

Erosion test for mud bricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18A university developed test that owner builders can do.

Earth walling and sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Trevor Howe explains why earth walls sound great.

Round and around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Simple, low cost accommodation in the round.

Innovative lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Dunolly Primary School’s new library

The making of “Toad Hall” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Peta and Bruce Lloyd’s prize winning mud brick home.

Cooling with the sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45It sounds like a lot of hot air but it can be done.

Coming home to rammed earth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52A rammed earth home to confound the skeptics.


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

DEADLINES FOR NEXT ISSUE:Editorial copy

Display & Directory advertising

19 June

Line ads26 June

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Coming events/line ads. . . . . . . . . . . . 16Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Dunolly Primary School’s new mud brick

library. It’s innovative and homely. Page 34.

Back: The verandah of Fenella Scaglione’s organic

cottage. Page 6.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 1998 (N.Z. $5.85 incl. GST) $3.95

Issue Number 88

◆ Reader projects ◆ Mud brick octagon◆ Paint stripping

made easy

◆ Mortar for laying mud bricks ◆ Corrugated iron masterpiece ◆ Owner built greenhouse◆ Energy smart designs◆ Sandbag house



Three & a half thousand sandbags later. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6And with the help of lots of friends.

Mortar for laying mud bricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10What to lay your bricks in and why.

Evolution of an OB greenhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18The free things in life are not necessarily the best.

Corrugated iron masterpiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25As Australian as Skippy the bush kangaroo.

Octagonal mud brick house. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29An octagonal floor plan that works.

From our readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33We invited your feedback and here it is.

Building an Energy Smart home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Time to get serious about preserving the environment.

A loft house in the suburbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Not everyone wants a mud brick house in the bush.

Stripping made easier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48Taking some of the hard work out of recycling.

Pioneering stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Geoff Fawkner’s passive solar muddie.


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd

DEADLINES FOR NEXT ISSUE:Editorial copy,


14 August

Line ads21 August

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Coming events/Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront and back: Brett and

Marisa’s sandbag house in the south-west of Western

Australia.Photos by Annie Mayo.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1998 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 89

◆ Owner builders in SE Queensland◆ How to get started in owner building◆ Rammed earth at Crystal Waters

◆ Straw bale houses◆ Feng shui



Kate and Allan’s buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Smorgasbord in straw bale, mud brick and stone.

The evolving house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Trevor Howe’s thoughts on changes in house layouts.

Rethinking mud brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Looking back after 20 years.

Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26You may have read about owner building – how to get started.

Feng Shui – build your own future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28An introduction to this ancient philosophy.

Crystal Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Rammed earth houses at a permaculture village.

From our readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38More readers showing their exploits.

Beechworth strawbale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44Bale houses you can visit in N.E. Victoria.

Function meets fantasy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51A pile of rocks, a dash of Oli and... wow!


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd


Display & Directory advertising16 October

Line ads23 October

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

REGULAR FEATURESCOVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Val and John Oliver’s

rammed earth house at Crystal Waters. See page 29.

Back: Kate and Allan’s straw bale guest room at Stanthorpe.

See page 6.

Inside...


Issue Number 90

◆ Build your own rainwater tank◆ Eve & Dave’s bluestone masterpiece◆ Thoughts on rammed earth◆ Building to a budget◆ Selecting a site


Great Christmas specialsSee p. 41


Eve and Dave’s bluestone masterpiece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Still smiling 45 tonnes of rock later.

Thoughts on rammed earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13The right equipment and some experience help.

Make your own water tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Save money by making your own ferro cement tank.

Building a house single handed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Where there’s a will there’s a way.

Mock drystone walling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Another way to do garden walling.

Protecting earth walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Keeping moisture out of earth walls.

On time, on budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38The owner builder’s biggest nightmares.

A site for sore eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43More on Feng Shui – site selection.

Permit me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44You’ve got the land and the plans but what about the permit?

It all started with a picnic on the farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51An iron clad farm house and gallery.


© Copyright 1998


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



17 December

Line ads24 December

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Coming events/Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Sonia & Alvin Knight’s

thoroughly modern muddie. See the story on page 27.

Back: Eve & Dave Boyd’s magnificent stone house. See the story on page 7.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine FEBRUARY - MARCH 1999 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 91

◆ How to design a better kitchen

◆ Formed cob buildings

◆ Comparing mud bricks

◆ Neighbourhood solar system

◆ Bluestone house



Built with bluestone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Eveonne and Denis’ home in the country.

Creating clever kitchens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Don’t leave the planning too late.

Freedom of self expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21No rectangular box for these artists.

Solar for more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Set up your own neighbourhood power company.

Formed cob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Hand built pottery you can live in.

Eco-logic...eco-action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Doing what comes naturally.

Mud bricks – which ones?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Buying bricks? This may help you choose.

South-western rammed earth to taste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Venita and Mike’s home at Margaret River.

King Canute revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Holding back the sea – for now!


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd


Display & Directory advertising19 February

Line ads26 February

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Formed cob cottage

designed and built by Monika Rauch in New Zealand’s beautiful Hokianga area.

(See page 29)Back: Formed cob wall at

the Whangarei Arts Complex. (Photo: Graeme North)

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine APRIL - MAY 1999 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 92

◆ Designing out the western sun◆ Putting a roof over your head

◆ Laying ceramic tiles◆ Hadden Hall – a medieval masterpiece

◆ Hillside house plans



Pavilion on a mountainside. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6...from where you can watch the eagles soar.

Putting a roof over one’s head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Thoughts on choosing the right style of roof.

Magpie turns mudlark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20...and adds a little magic.

Shading west-facing windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26If the view is into the west, what then?

Hadden Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Rob Hadden’s medieval masterpiece.

Laying ceramic floor tiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42It’s a job you can do yourself.

Nepalese building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46A trekkers view.

A frugal philosophy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Affordable art in rocks, bricks and glass.


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



16 April

Line ads23 April

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Directory of Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront cover: Hadden Hall.

See story on page 30.Back cover: Jenny and

Robin’s mountainside home. See page 6.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine JUNE - JULY 1999 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 93

Build your own solar hot water unit

How to lay stone

Making sense of design

Building with recycled site sheds

Beautiful flywire doors


The Owner Builder Magazine 6The Owner Builder Magazine 6The Owner Builder Magazine 6

Millibindi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A thoroughly modern house in timber, iron and stone.

Laying stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Step by step instructions on how to do it.

Winning the mud marathon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17A salutory saga for intending owner builders.

Making sense of design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22How to use all of your senses to design your house.

On owner building communitites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Rick Haughton writes on community life in Australia and South Africa.

Build yourself a solar hot water service . . . . . . . . . . . .30A simple inexpensive water heater you could make.

Adventure Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Just the place for an innovative beach cottage.

The ‘original’ homestead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Old fashioned comfort in an up-to-date muddie.


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



18 June

Line ads25 June

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56From the back porch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Suzie and Andrew’s

home on “Millibindi” at Margaret River.

Photo by Annie Mayo.Rear: Herco Dunn’s

magnificent flywire doors.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1999 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 94


Stone house in southern Queensland

Making stained glass windows

Pole framed strawbale

Mud brick retirement home

Building with tyres

Planning your bathroom

Mud brick cottage


Small cottage...great potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Getting back to bascis...to begin with.

Glass mosaics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Making beautiful windows out of scrap coloured glass.

Combining pole frame and straw bale . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Freeing up design with the best of both materials.

Future smart suburban muddie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16A retirement home that’s old age friendly.

Efficient thermal mass walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Why insulation is not always enough.

A glorified fibro beach shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29It’s not what it’s made of; it’s how it’s made.

Termite free zone! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34One house and home the owners won’t be eaten out of.

Innovation with home grown stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Built in stages using different laying techniques.

Designing your bathroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Some things to remember when planning your home.

Building with tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52A way of creating massive walls.


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).


Printers:McPherson’s Printing Group

62 Sutton Road Maryborough, 3465


326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



13 August

Line ads20August

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSJudy and Peter SHerlock’s

mud brick cottage at Castlemaine. See Page 6.

Inside...

TheOwner Builder The Australasian home builders magazine OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1999 (N.Z. $6.50 incl. GST) $4.50

Issue Number 95


Straw bales go gothic

The pitfalls ofcut and pastehome design

Caring foryour solar

system

Pole framed house

Making roofing shingles

At home in a winery

Historic restorations

Exciting brickwork

Forthcoming house tours


Treading lightly in the landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Peter Marsden’s home and winery.

Not just another brick in the wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Brickwork doesn’t have to be boring.

A rustic bush cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19How to make your own roofing shingles.

Holy straw!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Straw bales go gothic.

A pole house in the hills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30When owners and professionals work together.

The pitfalls of cut & paste design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Do you really want to live in bits of other people’s houses?

Solar power – form & function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Looking after your solar system makes financial sense.

Bowden Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Restoring a Devon Longhouse.

Once upon a time, all owners were builders! . . . . .47A receding Lake Eildon gives up its secrets.

First take some mining junk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Sensitive recycling doesn’t have to look like a rearranged tip.


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd


Display & Directory advertising15 October

Line ads22 October

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44


COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Sampling a vintage

wine on the balcony of Peter Marsden’s winery home. See his story on page 6.

Back: Beautiful handcrafted doors to Debbie and David’s office building. See page 52.

Inside...


Issue Number 96


A stone house in Tassie

Urban tree salvage

Power points in mud brick

A jungle in the suburbs

Build a garden pond

So you want to buy a bush block?

ristmas special

43bac issues or t e price o 32

plus a plan boo(see pa e 29)


Big enough for the family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6And guess who built our house.

The great BIG con.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Helpful design advice from Gary Kruithof.

When you’ve mastered meccano.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17What you can do with $60,000 and an electric drill.

A history of the house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24An interesting insight into the evolution of the house.

A pond in the garden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Water can make a big difference to your garden.

A sense of place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Leaving the city? Going bush? Here are some hints.

Solid as a rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36A stone home of traditional style and passive solar features.

Urban tree salvage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Adding value to our discarded trees.

Power points in mud brick walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Proven techniques for building them in.

Secrets of a suburban jungle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Federation front hides metro muddie... and more.


© Copyright 1999


Australia


[email protected]



& Assoc. Pty Ltd (A.C.N. 005 711 740).





326764/00022 ISSN 0728-7225


Gordon & Gotch Ltd



10 December

Line ads17 December

REGULAR FEATURES

In House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Line ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Coming events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Back issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Bookshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

COVER PHOTOGRAPHSFront: Jann & Peter Lane’s

rammed earth house at Margaret River. (see page 7)Back: Anna Ashton’s garden

pond. (see page 30)

Inside...

the owner builder 1990-1999 37-96

Documents

theowner builder

loft house design

australia post

issue number

val russell andrewspublishers

toni lumsdenprinters

spacemud brick soils12choosing

pole frame housing6houses