Salvaged Galv Iron walls

The walls to the Riders Lounge part of the development are clad in salvaged galvanized iron sheets

Blackbutt timber windows frame the view

It's been a long journey for these sticks of Blackbutt, harvested as fire salvage, seasoned and then dressed and joined at Wodonga Joinery.
Beautifully fitted into the building by Lin and Clay Baird. Will be glazed on site.

Highlights and Blackbutt

The Blackbutt timber window frames highlight the northern sunshine and ventilation, once the black plastic is removed and louvres are fitted.

New highlights

Lustre de sabot de cheval

Thanks to some dedicated welding from Mick and Kevin, these worn horseshoes have found the light at the end of the road. Well nearly, just got to finish the connection.

En suites

The ensuites are ready to go with plumbing fixtures in place, tiling and lights as well as glass screens and tap ware.

Hand basin, granite floors and tiles

Glass shower screens, shower fittings

Interiors, doors and plaster.

The carpenters have hung the interior doors, and fitted locks etc, plastering is completed.

Doors in place

 last light down the breezeway

Plaster work in office

Fire wall in mudroom

Kitchen basics

In keeping with our recycle, reuse, ethos, we were able to source an excellent commercial stove, fitted for LPG on Ebay. Installed and ready to be commissioned, the stove should be a source of many a long table meal.

The Waldorf Range stands by ready to to start cooking with gas.

Commercial sink in place

Painters final touches outside

The painters enjoyed a brief stretch of fine weather to complete the exterior painting.

All painted and polished.

Finished the granite floor

Despite being heavy work, bricklayer Bernie completed the granite floors covering over 200m2 of floor. Bernie's attention to detail shows in the layout of the stone.

Granite set in place and grouted

Electrical fittings

Electrical contractor Richard has fitted the Hi Bay lights to the lounge area

One of 3 HiBays over the lounge area

Verandas and shade structures

Shelter from the storm, shade in the hot summer sun and set up to allow winter sun to penetrate deep into the building, the verandas and shade structures perform and important role

Blackbutt cladding and shade structures

Veranda awaiting roof sheets

Bring on the power

Inside the locked up building in wall rough-ins are progressing with electrical and hot and cold water loops installed

Electrical circuits

Hot and cold water loops

Finish the in ground works

With the reliably dry March weather all the in ground services were completed. Waste water connections to waste system, storm water collection to storage tanks, potable water supply to the buildings, farm water connections to garden and cistern loops, gas mains and underground electrical and telephone connections.

Multi services trench

Building locked up

With windows in place and cladding complete, the lock-up target is accomplished. Meanwhile the salvaged granite flooring is starting to take shape.

Eaves linings and Axon wall claddings to the ensuite areas

Salvage granite is carefully cut to create a crazy paved hard wearing floor and more thermal mass.

Feathertop burns

Progress on the building took rest as resources were diverted into managing the impact of the Mount Feathertop bushfire on the horse tour business and farm property.

Fire looms in our big backyard!

Limestone walls

An important element of the passive design of these buildings was the creation of a thermal mass within the building envelope, to act a temperature moderator between seasonal and night day cycles. Wanting to use a masonry product with a low carbon footprint, we sourced some salvaged limestone blocks from Richmond in Melbourne.

Some of the blocks with tags and art retained.

Salvaged Blackbutt re-purposed as shiplap cladding

Considering the bushfire BAL 12.5 applied to the development, we needed to source a cladding that meet the requirements of the attack level. Choosing timber cut that choice down to a few species and blackout was one. This cladding material had been used by Tubemakers in Port Kembla as pipe stacking bearers, until reclaimed and milled into shiplap profile. We love the look of this special material.

Blackbutt cladding on the end gables.

From seabed to High Country

Limestone blocks salvaged from a Richmond (Melbourne) factory need refacing to remove grime and wall paint. Antonio was keen to help and got through about 2000 big blocks in few weeks. He even uncovered a few fossils of sea life.

The block master, making short work of the ancient seabed.

My winters art work for the accommodation

Four down two to go! My mosaic tables for the private garden area for each room. They are all salvaged tables from an auction house in Melbourne. $10 each and now priceless! LOL 

The fold up iron chairs were $10 each too from a coffee shop in Albury that decided on new plastic ones and were throwing these one away! Love them they are perfect for all weather and strong metal frames. This table has a brass sea horse in the centre, it broke off the end of a serving spoon. The spoon was a gift from my friend Viv Bright it broke about 10 years ago, I could never throw it away and finally I set it into the centre of my work! 

Frustrated Rock Climbers!

The rock climbing harnesses have come in handy for the monkey's on the roof!  Lin and Clay have finally got the safety message!