Rebuilding at Wheoh in the Warrumbungles after bushfire

Most recent video: Steps (3:25 mins) April 2022

On Sunday, 12th January 2013, a bushfire (named Wambelong) escaped from the Warrumbungle National Park. It swept through Wheoh, burning plants, wildlife and the 36 year old hand-made house built on a small sandstone rise among scribbly gums (E. rossii). The impact on our family and Wheoh is most eloquently expressed by my daughter, Bonnie, in two of her own blog posts: In Memoriam (15th January 2013) and The Lonely Bones (19th January 2013).

Our family, as well as visitors, were accustomed to recording thoughts in hand-written journals (dating back to 1975). Sadly, the volume covering the years 2011-2013 was lost in the fire as well as a memory painting (above). Earlier volumes, removed in anticipation of the fire, have now been returned. In July 2013, I began the process of rebuilding and more volumes are being shelved. This, more fire proof and publicly accessible record, consists of 3 minute videos with occasional written posts. It's an attempt to capture the resilience of a fire ecology for family, friends, and anyone attracted to the serenity of reclusion, self-sufficiency and the process of making things out of what comes to hand. If I have a guiding principle it's a sense of gratitude that nothing lasts, is finished, or is perfect.

Thoughts on my own sense of belonging In Place. In 2019, drought records were broken with a mere 167.6 mm annual rainfall (average 600 mm). See 100 years of data 1886-2020.

Links to short videos

Steps (3:25 mins) April 2022
Visits (3:25 mins) November - December 2021
Space in place (3:25 mins) August 2021
Ideas (3:25 mins) July 2021
Rain and rats (3:25 mins) March 2021
Vale Peter Thompson (3:25 mins) December 2020
Metal work (3:25 mins) June 2020
Self-isolating (3:25 mins) March 2020
Jack's ironbark bed (3:25 mins) December 2019
Framing up a making place (3:25 mins) September 2019
Sights and sounds (3:25 mins) July 2019
Pouring a slab (3:25 mins) May 2019
Stainless tank with Jim and Tao (3:25 mins) March 2019
Falling aquifers and tanks (3:25 mins) December 2018
Drought - water for wildlife (3:25 mins) September 2018
Bed with kurrajong coffee (3:25 mins) May 2018
Hopes & dreams (3:25 mins) January 2018
Walls and fences (3:25 mins) November 2017
Track making (3:25 mins) August 2017
Walling and painting (3:25 mins) May 2017
Termites and bookshelves (3:25 mins) April 2017
Doors and drawers (3:25 mins) March 2017
Rain, mist and a day bed (3:25 mins) September 2016
Composting toilet (3:25 mins) April 2016
Bookshelves and columns (3:25 mins) February 2016
Spring tank and steps (3:25 mins) August 2015
House Warming (3:25 mins) May 2015
Family Easter (3:25 mins) April 2015
Mixing bowl basin (3:25 mins) March 2015
Water tank (3:23 mins) 4th February 2015
Ends and edges (3:25 mins) 27th December 2014
Verandah (3:23 mins) 30th September 2014
Timor Valley community declares itself Gasfield Free (3:36 mins) 17th September 2014
How to make a wood-fired oven with a hot water system (collated guide) (3:25 mins) 5th August 2014
Shelter before snow (3:24 mins) 29th July 2014
Wallaroos released into the Warrumbungle wilds (3:26 mins) 18th June 2014
Windows and doors (3:25 mins) 30th May 2014
Father and son (3:26 mins) 30th April 2014
Workshop-studio (3:25 mins) 30th March 2014
Confederacy of birds (3:25 mins) 13th February 2014
Drought and heat (3:25 mins) 30th January 2014
Oven warming (3:25 mins) 15th December 2013
Oven dome (3:27 mins) 18th November 2013
Oven base (3:25 mins) November 2013
Stone wall (3:25 mins) October 2013
Spring resilience (3:20 mins) September 2013
Settling in (3:25 mins) August 2013
Arriving (3:21 mins) August 2013
Never take a tap for granted (3:16 mins) April 2013
Burnt out by bush fire (3:25 mins) January 2013
Wheoh dawn before the fire (3:24 mins) November 2012
Replacing the top casement window (3:51 mins) April 2012

Links to written pieces

Bushfire-ravaged communities take future into own hands - 28th January 2020 [published in Independent Australia (IA)]
In Place 21st September 2018 [published in Dark Sky Dreamings ed. Merrill Findlay 2019]
How Barnaby Joyce contaminates my drinking water - 12th February 2018 [published in Independent Australia (IA)]
Anniversary 12 months - 12th January 2014
oven base (26th September - 8th November 2013)
workshop (6th - 26th September 2013)
level (27th August 2013 - 6th September 2013)
mail box (22th - 27th August 2013)
shelter and stillness (12th - 22nd August 2013)
arriving (5th - 12th August 2013)