Hut

During this period, we built up an outside surround of shale up to the top of the stove level on the chimney surround. This not only prevented more blistered hands, but improved heating of the oven (both bread and scones were baked). The fountain had been left full of water, which

The crane we made to suspend the fountain and move it to one side on the stove top. This allowed us to use the whole stove if we needed it to, and take the fountain off the boil if we had a raging fire.

The crane we made to suspend the fountain and move it to one side on the stove top. This allowed us to use the whole stove if we needed it to, and take the fountain off the boil if we had a raging fire.

after a week, was rusty. It was emptied, refilled, and again put into use as a hot water supply. One “light work afternoon” resulted in a new crane for it, made from found objects of a tree we had cut the day before and a piece of chain from a dingo trap found on our southern boundary, all held securely by two rusty coach bolts from the bottom of the trailer. The fountain can now be moved aside at night, or when the whole top of the stove is required for cooking. To prevent rusting the top of the stove was liberally buttered a couple of times.

As well as the kerosene wall sconce which we took with us last time we had electric lighting, run from Elsie’s spare battery.

Shale was selected and split and laid on a bed of gravel from the dry wash to form a temporary floor. It was better than dirt but definitely needs re-laying and concreting.

hut-door

The door of the hut showing shale ‘doorstep’ and the post with jasmine

Water was collected by family excursions to the creek with five gallon jerry cans and the Fountain or by individual excursions of child plus bucket. The chinking of all walls was finished by Miriam and Joseph. Filler logs are beginning to sink against each other (they still have bark) leaving a gap at the top of each section. An extra 6″ x 1 & 1/2″ board was nailed to the outside of the log walls to close this gap at the outside, while still allowing ventilation.

The bench we made with variable leg lengths so it sat on the slope with the seat horizontal. The other half of this grey box trunk formed the threshhold, at the doorway. And the marble washstand, what a beauty!  If we were at Melemijo there was a towel hanging off one of the twigs on the upright.

The bench we made with variable leg lengths so it sat on the slope with the seat horizontal. The other half of this grey box trunk formed the threshhold, at the doorway. And the ‘marble washstand’, what a beauty! If we were at Melemijo there was a towel hanging off one of the twigs on the upright.

To prevent too much damage from wet feet, a few slabs of shale were put outside the door (no spouting as yet) to allow water to drain away around them. A piece of jasmine planted beside the original post appeared to be dying. This is been surrounded by a shale garden bed edge and the front of the heart cleared and covered with raked gravel.

A shutter of 6 inch by one and a half inch planks was made and attached over the window, which we discovered unsecured – either strong winds or prying fingers.

The [camping] trailer was opened out fully and used as a bedroom by the children. A box tree close to the hut was felled, except for one slender branch which was used to carry the electric light wire from Elsie to the heart. With a large slab of shale from the house site the stump became a “marble washstand”.

 

A note about the ‘fountain’:

An example of a fountain like the one described in this post.

An example of a fountain like the one described in this post.

[added by Miriam]

A ‘fountain’ in this context is not a garden feature, but a cast iron urn that sits on a stove top and acts like a hot water services. Here’s a pic I found on the web. I don’t know why they are called fountains, but they are. And if you search for ‘cast iron urns’ on the interwebs you get decorative items – some of which I suspect are intended as receptacles for the ashes of deceased persons … The example here happens to be enamelled (I saw a picture of it with the lid off) but ours was not – hence the issue with rusting.

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August 1976 – an 8 hour trip with the trailer

During June July and August we had watched the columns of the Weekly Times for tractor implements. We took the large trailer to Rosebud to collect a ripper, grader blade and jib. All were fairly rusty, but with the aid of Sally in the backyard at Heidelberg they were taken apart and greased. The jib also needed an extra section added to it to make it fit the tractor (welded) as well as the tool bar which we purchased later. All of these implements, plus the tractor, were to go to Malemijo in August, so that we could begin the clearing and grading of the house site, so that the concrete slab could be poured by October when the house was due for delivery.

After all implements and tractor (as well as extra food and clothing) were packed, the land cruiser clutch showed need for readjustment. A half day’s work seemed to leave everything okay. We set off at six on Wednesday, August 25th expecting a long journey. The trailer proved to be unpredictable above 20 mph [32kph] downhill so we moved along at speeds ranging between 20 and 40 mph with stops for breakfast and lunch at Traralgon and Bairnsdale finally arriving at the Old Ensay road in the early afternoon (eight hours later). This we unloaded the tractor, and repacked the trailer, to negotiate the fairly slippery long paddock track. Despite some hair raising moments as Lesley learned to drive the tractor, all arrived safely at Malemijo approximately an hour later. The padlock which we had placed in series with the L-s at the last trip was replaced by a stronger padlock and the original one was later used as a door lock on the on the hut.

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The Mouse

Illustration of a mouse head down bum up in jar

On arrival, we discovered some tiny animal droppings on top of the cupboard and tooth-marks around an open can of milk that ha been left. The first night there were scrabblings, and tiny turds on the milk can next morning. Phred [the cat] seemed to have spent a restless night – he was interested in the wood pile and the area under our cupboard –boxes. After one night when nothing was left out, we once more forgot to put out our ‘rubbish can’ above the stove and when Mario turned the light on, we could see a tail and backlegs protruding from it.

Illustration of a cat staring fixedly at a camp oven, where we know (from the text on this page) that mouse is hiding

Although Mario crept up quietly, the mouse heard him, ran down the wall and under one of the boxes. Phred watched with us for some time, but our visitor seems to have gone out through the wall. From then, ALL food was covered at night and we appear not to have been visited for a while. Then late on a showery afternoon, Phred, outside, frightened a mouse who ran in through the wall and took shelter under the camp oven.

Illustration of a cat climbig a wall in hot pursuit of a mouse.

We called Phred, and after his attention was drawn, removed the camp oven. Mouse and cat exploded in activity across the floor, under the bed and up the wall where the mouse narrowly escaped through a chink between upright and stringy-bark. Phred watched the wall disconsolately for a while.

We had no more visits from the mouse during the trip, and are confident that Phred will prove himself valuable as a safeguarder of family food stores.

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August 14th

A weekend trip to install the stove and bunks before August school holidays. Joseph spent the weekend with Cathy. Trailer (small) was packed with stove, bedsprings, wheelbarrow, tools and four camping boxes as well as the fountain which I had got as a birthday present. We had some clutch and loss-of-power troubles on the way up, through some rain drizzling.  Once on the road easement (hereafter called the ‘long paddock’) Elsie lost traction in the muddy section. A road of thistles and twigs helped us get through. While making the ‘road’ we were told by one of the C- boys that D- L- locked the gate to his property.  We decided to go ahead, park the trailer and visit him. We also had to place logs across the deeper of the two gullies on the long paddock to get across with the trailer. Uncoupled and drove towards B-h, but met D- and P-, who gave us the key to their padlock and agreed that we should add our own padlock to the chain. Invited them for tea when they had finished hand-feeding. During the recoupling process, frayed tempers led to jack being left down on the trailer. It was badly twisted by the time we arrived at Malemijo – we had intended to leave the small trailer there for accommodation anyway – Miriam was to use it this weekend. Cleared the hut, unloaded the trailer and set the pre-welded legs of the stove support in concrete made of a green cement packet and gravel from the dry wash – some slate flags set in this same concrete. At his stage we were joined the L- family for tea and hot chocolate.

The 'jackall' jack

We tried several methods of raising and moving the stove (wire rope sling, wood levers) and finally put it into position with the aid of the Jackall (an example pictured, left) to hold it up while easing it back into position. That night we set up the two stretchers in the hut and spent a very uncomfortable night, regularly sliding downhill.

Two bedsprings from Cathy which we had brought with us were put into place by Mario on Sunday whie Miriam and I mixed some mud-mortar (the dirt taken from the floor of the hut during levelling) and chinked tow sections of the logs (the western side). These besprings made two bunks, the lower one permanently fixed, and the upper one hinged so that it could be placed against the wall during the day time, and the lower bunk used as a seat. On Sunday, too, we had our first Malemijo breakfast of reheated bread rolls and honey. The stove worked well, but Mario put his hand against the outside stove surround to test the head and badly blistered his palm. We considered some sort of extra insulation. The stove surround had been moved during installation, and the bat surround had to be recut before the stove could be put in position.

This time we left behind the small trailer as well as the generator, bedding and some food.

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An encounter

On the way out through the long paddock on August 15th, we met two men with chainsaws and a tray-bodied Land Cruiser. We introduced ourselves and understand that one of them is the owner of the land adjoining the easement. Didn’t catch his name, over the roar of the other chainsaw. He seemed semi-interested and asked what we intended to do for water. We told him of our application for pumping rights.

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July – August 1976

Since June 14th, we had held an exhibition in Canberra* and had applied for pumping rights on Sheepstation Creek and a licence to occupy the Crown Lands along the creek. We arranged to meet the Crown Lands officer at our next visit. We had also written to the Frosts Commission asking them to remove signs which might make Richards Track and the Boonabirrah track appear to be public  roads. We rang the local Forestry Officer and told him that we would be at the property on July 29th. The signs were removed in the meantime. We had briefed counsel to find the details of access rights. We had been told by phone (by P- L- that the rack along the existing road easement had been bulldozed and that we therefore had a track along the road easement as far past the North turn towards Sheepstation creek. D- L-  had agreed verbally to allow us access through his land until such time as the council gets around to putting in the road.

On Thursday July 29th we set out for 5 days to get the hut finished. The children were taken out of school for the trip. We arrived early Thursday afternoon (for lunch) and after setting-up camp at the prepared camp-site began the work of completing the hut. We had brought with us roofing-iron, ply, insulation bats, fibreglass (for a skylight) and a pre-formed [sheetmetal] stove surround for the little “Lux” [see next post for details of the stove]. We hoped to be any extra timber needed at one of the local saw-mills. The newly-cut track was soft but negotiable – the major problem seemed to be an area of red clay just in from the main gate.

Friday morning was spent on business. We drove to the Omeo Shire Offices with house plans and saw the assistant Shire Engineer, who issued a building permit. On the way back through Swifts Creek we called to see Tom Fitzpatrick at the Crown Land office, discussed gold, fish and noxious weeds, and were told that the Licence to Occupy would come through with no problems. We called at Ezard Timber for some timber and left loaded down with 6″ x 1 ½” [15cm x 4cm] and 2″ x 4″ [approx 5cm x 10cm] to a depth of 6″ across the roof-rac. This was all second grade timber, but perfectly okay for our needs, and cost us $10. After a careful trip back to the old Ensay Road turnoff we unloaded, and carried the timber across Luckock’s paddocks in three trips. The roof rack was cracked back and front as the result of the loading. During the three trips we were followed mournfully and noisly by the cows and calves who seemed sure that w would stop at any time to hand feed them. Davied seemed to have stopped feeding them, although the grass was still low, and new growth was very young and sparse. By Saturday night we had all uprights and fillers in position and the stove surround, supported by 2″ x 4″  timbers, was also in place.

The layout showing posts, walls, and some detail of what Mum called the ‘service area’ in the journal – stove surround, doorway etc.

We had been using fires for warmth and some cooking (made and attended by Joseph) and the weather had been cold at night, chilly by day. By Sunday there were irregular gusts of wind, forever changing direction, but mostly from the East (we later learnt that high winds had been prevalent throughout Victoria). Showers were also becoming more frequent, but Sunday was our roof-putting-on day, so we went ahead. The Box uprights were cut level with the chainsaw (using Elsie’s roof as a scaffold) and the timber boxing and beams of 6″ x 1½” were put in position, including the skylight section. An extra beam of 4″ x2″ for fixing purposes was positioned before the ply was attached to the inside of the ceiling, bats placed above it, and finally the iron [sheetmetal] and fibreglass nailed in position. Some sheets had fewer nails, as we looked as if we were going to run out of nails before finishing.

The ‘service area’ showing the plank infills (different to other walls which were stringybark)

The door (which we had also brought with us) was put in position, and the gaps on the ‘service wall’ filled with ply temporarily so that the children could sleep in the hut for that night. Next morning, the service wall was completed with 6″x1 ½” planks and a bold lock put on the window as well as a temporary lock on the door. We left air-beds and tents as well as tools in the locked up hut.

As well as the building work, we had inspected the Camp flat garden and planted pea seedlings and seeds both in the garden and in a garden bed constructed beside the hut (using compost pile to help make up the soil) Five raspberry canes were planted in the large flat beside the dry wash. No wire was put around either ne planting but leafy gum branches were placed over the pea seeds to protect from frosts.

The hut roof plan. The words ‘3 beams’ is in Dad’s (Mario’s) writing
How the roof was insulated

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*Note from Miriam: Mum and Dad worked in metals. Dad was a silversmith, working in silver and gold and precious and semi-precious stones – creating jewellery that he loved to refer to as wearable artwork. Mum was a pewtersmith, creating dishes, boxes, vases, jugs, platters and all sorts of decorative items. Both of them were self-taught artisans and had a little bit of fame and recognition for their work in this area in the 70s and 80s. They both created some beautiful things, which were exhibited and sold in a number of galleries around Melbourne. They also ran an annual exhibition in Canberra, at the Civic Centre, and for a couple of years at Malemijo the proceeds from this was our main source of income.

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June – July 1976

Back in Melbourne we were organising and enquiring about equipment and housing. We had bought a chain saw and small generator and were looking at tractors. Our first choice was the Bohlens HT20, but we decided that this type of tractor would not have enough power for us. After looking at several 20-25 horsepower tractors, both diesel and petrol, we decided on and bought (for delivery in June) a Satoh, later called Sally. Before the final delivery we also had a 10′ x 6′ [3m x 2 m ish]trailer and were looking for a chain and dogs. Other enquiries were made to seed farms and tree nurseries. We made a list of trees and shrubs and at that stage considered putting in an order for delivery in time for spring planting. Later, we found that we would not have time to prepare the ground this year. The decision to buy a small version of the Bush Haven Log Cabin was taken, and a deposit paid before the end of the financial year. Delivery was to be by October 24th.

The whole page of sketches – details are below, at the bottom of this post

The next trip to Malemijo was made on Queen’s Birthday weekend, June 14th, with the intention of rebuilding the ‘hut’ we had found – in order to have somewhere to leave tools and equipment and to live comfortably while building the house. Weather was cold at nights, and warm during the day. We went to bed early for warmth, and used the radiator. Camp was set up near the posts for the hut.

The existing posts (except two) were removed with the aid of the Jackall jack, and new post holes were dug (or the old ones expanded) using the new post-hole auger, a crow bar and post hole shovel. Small stringy-barks around the hut site were cleared. New corner posts and uprights were selected from standing live grey boxes, which were cut to length, and scarfed to take stringy-bark logs. After spending half a day scarfing one corner post with adze and chisel, we began to use chainsaw only for scarfing. With two posts in position, the first string-bark fillers were cut and put in position. for the V notch scarfings, some axe trimming of the string bark logs was necessary.

[Miriam’s note: if you look at Wikipedia, it talks about scarf joints which are a way to join two pieces of wood together end to end. In this context, though, it means creating the groove down the length of a post that notched logs will then slot into. You’ll sometimes find the word used this way in tongue and groove joints, which kind of matches the concept]

Compost Heap – you get the idea. That smell? That’s just wee.

After a solid day of using the chainsaw for clearing and trimming, Mario had developed a migraine on Sunday. We decided to buy ear-muffs for the next trip. Sunday was a light work day because of the headache. One post hole had proved hard to dig , so a bucket of water was put in it overnight. By next morning the ground had softened to good clay. We began to use this for chinking the cracks in the stringybark filled-in walls. Chinking became Miriam and Joseph’s job. More post holes were dug and dead wood around the area was cleared and stacked around three box trees to become the ‘fence’ around our compost heap. The compost pile was begun with some soil and humus, our tea bags and vegetable scraps. We decided to add to its nitrogen content by making it the common urine depository. All faeces at this stage were deposited in holes dug on the eastward slope of the ridge (drainage away from the dry wash and and the main stream of Sheepstation Creek).

By time of leaving, we had two wall sections half-erected, and four posts in position, with three extra post holes dug, and covered with logs or shale. Our trailer camp-site and fireplace area was cleared and ready for quick access on the next trip.

Access was still via L-s locked gate, which had been left unlocked to enable our neighbours to get in and out.

For the first time, we left some equipment behind the black jerry-can and the small crow bar. At P- L-‘s request, we met J- C-, walked over the Council Easement and asked him to quote on clearing a track along the easement.

Hut sketch details

Scarfing detail – the grey box posts
Ends of stringybark logs trimmed ready to slot into posts
Wall detail
Two wall panels, filling up with stringbark. The reality was not so neat, particularly with mud from ‘chinking’
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April-May 1976

Decision taken on way home on Labour day to make final move this year.

Mario handed in full-time resignation March 24 for June 24th.

Notice in The Age

Decision taken to name the property Malemijo Experimental Farm, and printing ordered. Public notice to be placed in The Age.

Next trip to Malemijo during May school holidays. We camped at the proposed house site, with the Cargill Trailer and two one-man tents. Weather still dry, but cold at night and warm in afternoons. Work planned was further selection of sites and beginning a small garden. Chain saw and generator (small) were carried with us, as well as post-hole auger, gardening tools, seeds and seedlings.

A section approx 8′ x 10′ (2.5 – 3.0 metres approx) was cleared at camp flat and fenced with stringy-bark and chicken wire. Brown onions seedlings, silver beet (late) and broad-bean seeds planted. Sage and rosemary cuttings planted and parsley, chives and a plum-tree seedling transplanted, three chestnuts planted and a garlic clove for each garden row.

Half-day spent re-straining fence and replacing gate-post on our western boundary, using muscle and Elsie* power.

Cathy** arrived for a first visit after dark on the last night (we were already in bed because of the cold). Mario and Lesley walked the track in the moonight to guide her to the camping-place. She stayed on after we left for Melbourne.

Since last visit we had contacted L-*** about access. Agreed to further discussions but in the meantime we were using his side-track which was padlocked.  Before going in we would visit them and arrange to add new padlock. Instituted double padlock system for the duration of our stay.

Posts and hessian – remains of a hut

On second sight, the house-site less suitable than we remembered. We discovered the remains of a log and hessian hut further downhill from the site (posts only standing) and decided to rebuild on that site as a ‘tool-shed cum shelter’. Most of the remaining posts would have to be removed.

We heard kangaroos at night, and saw large greys heading up hill in the mornings. Many cockatoos were roosting in the large tres on the creek flats – flying in at about 4 pm, ready for sunset at 5 pm, and noisily flying out in the mornings. Our camp was visited by inquisitive red-breasted robins and green & yellow robins.

Feathers from an unfortunate rosella were collected from a small flat in the dry-wash.

* Elsie was the name we gave our Toyota Land Cruiser, as in ‘LC’.

** ‘Grandma Cathy’, Lesley’s mother.

*** the next door farmers. Names not fully expanded here .

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February 1976

Trees cut and left

After payment of full price. Decision to visit ‘The Property’ and inspect fully. Weekend trip only. Decided to take two-man tents and camp at ‘Camp Flat’. Phred [the cat] accompanied us for the first time. We were worried about one dead tree, which could fall. On arrival discovered that it was already down. Camped against the fallen trunk. Misty rain on Sunday didn’t prevent us walking the boundary and photographing areas for later consideration.

Prospective house site

On the track surrounding the dry wash area, several trees had been cut, some wood taken, but many treees left lying in position.

Site of proposed dam

We photographed these areas also. Bulldozer had been in to cut ford to lot 15. We later discovered that trees had been taken to make a bridge across the creek further upstream.

Naming of orchard flat, camp flat, wattle flat and nettle flat. Selection of dry wash for dam site, and original selection of high house site. Possiblityof second dam site at western end also considered.

Decision taken on way home not to wait several years [to make the move to the property]. Perhaps two years.

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January 1976

‘End of Track to Camp Flat’ – photo taken on 18 Jan 1976

After looking at land in Dargo and having the sale fall through.

Advertisement in The Age for bush block with stream and solitude. Rang the advertised number, saw some videotape and arranged to view the property. Drove to Swifts Creek January 17th. 4½ hours, Land Cruiser alone (no trailer) . Saw property and spent the night. Creek was running well. Very dry weather. Still, breathless in the valley. Sunday January 18th signed Sale Note for thirty day contract. Despite weather, puddle on track seemed to indicate springs somewhere North of granite rocks. We decided not to visit ‘The Property’ again until we had paid fully. Lawyers set in motion.

‘Camp Flat’ – Polaroid (somewhat deteriorated) of the first weekend, January ’76
Proposed second dam
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