|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| $25 House |
Most couples have to save a lot of dough if they want to build their first house, but the bulk of this dream home cost just $25 and a slab of beer!
|
|
|
|
|
Bob and Lyndell Neil bought their property 10 years ago in Gin Gin near Bundaberg in south-east Queensland. Whilst searching for a wandering cow, Bob discovered a huge pile of hardwood logs consisting of blue gum, ironbark and spotty gum.
The timber was on crown land. His half-hearted $25 offer to the forestry department was accepted and he organised a truck to pick it up. A portable saw mill was the next item to appear on the property, ready for Bob to begin building.
The ironbark beams in the house came from a dismantled bridge. Left lying around by the Department of Main Roads in Gin Gin, Bob's offer of a slab of beer was accepted and they brought the timber out to the property!
Despite this luck, new cyprus pine timber had to be bought in at a cost of $3500 to finish off the floors and ceilings. The timber windows were obtained from a local who needed some help in building a picket fence.
Bob discovered he had a passion for using recycled "bush" timber and started his own business, Slab Happy, making furniture and benches.
Together with a mate, Bob often spends a couple of days each month camped in an isolated paddock or forest, trimming and hauling the huge logs found in the bush. They travel up to several hundred kilometres to collect the timber.
|
Cost
The main part of the house cost $25. However, the total cost, including roof and flooring timber, cement and labour added up to around $35,000.
|
More Info
If you would like to order Bob's furniture contact him at Slab Happy:
Ph/fax: (07) 4157 6516.
His work is also displayed at:
Echo Bush Furniture, Gold Coast, Qld. Ph/fax: (07) 5578 5150
Hemp Hut, Eumundi Markets, Qld. Ph: (07) 5442 8099
Bower Cottage Industries, Bodalla, NSW. Ph/fax: (02) 4473 5413
Warning: always check with forestry authorities or landowners before removing what look like unwanted logs.
|
Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
|
|
|
|
|
