A little bit of landscaping out the front.

Hello again….

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to update OPJ as we’ve had a few problems with the computer.

Not a lot has been happening at home as we’ve all been so busy lately but we have been slowly working on a small retaining wall and picket fence out the front of the house.

We drove around our suburb and some of the surrounding suburbs to have a look at all the different types of ‘traditional’ fences and to get some ideas. The one we were replacing was a picket fence and we were keen to build something similar.

I also searched the internet for some old examples of fencing here in Queensland and compared them to some lovely examples from this century.

Bunnings sells only two option:,batten or ‘colonial‘ (right of picture). Finlaysons has more options but are a lot more expensive (left of picture).

From our observations from looking at the houses around us etc.. it seemed that colonial style is very popular here in Brisbane  but after lots of hemming and hawing  we decided to have a go at making our own ‘pointy’ picket.

The boys have been a great help doing lots of dusty, dirty work.  We’re going to let the wood dry out for a few weeks and then paint the fence white.

We’re now waiting to get a permit from the Brisbane City Council for carport.  Unfortunately due to the size of our block of land it will only be a single carport but it’s better than nothing!!

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!

Happy Australia Day!!!

It’s been a very wet day here in Brisbane today, much to the disappointment of many Queenslander’s who probably had plans to spend it at the beach or at home with  family, friends, beers and a bbq.   We’ve had a very  hot and dry Summer so far so I’m enjoying the cooler temperature and the rain.

Because its Australia Day, I feel its only fitting that I post these photos.

Twice a week I drive to Ipswich for work.  For those not familiar with Brisbane, Ipswich City is approximately a 30 – 40 minute drive from Brisbane.  I pass some beautiful old ‘Queenslanders’ on my route and some that have seen better days. Sitting on a very busy road by some traffic lights there is a house that is a little worse for wear.  But if you look really closely you’ll see an Emu and a Kangaroo in the gable panel.  It is, I believe the Coat of arms of Australia. 

I found some interesting information about fretwork gabled panels on the The Woodworkers’ Company website.

 

You can still  buy something similar from timber joinery suppliers like the Woodworkers’ Company .  There are other designs available  too but not quite so Patriotic!