To read our Woodgate blog CLICK ON THE IMAGE.
Sleepy Woodgate, yawn and you’re moving too fast, blink and you’ll miss it. However, If it’s not your destination you won’t have heard about it. A part of the traditional land of the Kabi Kabi people, the local Dundaburra tribe is noted to have resided here for the last 50,000 years. Indicated by the many middens along the Burrum river, their diet was varied with large amounts of shellfish. White fellas arrived in the area in 1850, less than 170 years ago for farming prospects, mostly sugarcane. Woodgate earned itself a reputation as a growing beach resort. So come today it still is, a beach resort cum retirement village (median age of 61). Due to a lack of economy and minimal work opportunities, Woodgate is a place for hobbies and socializing where the pace of life and the hour slows. The importance of public spaces are emphasised, the main street and front verandah become the edges of the ‘living room’.
When the most important aspect to a building is its social connection, how does the facade respond?
Read on by clicking on the image above
Exploring the main street as the living room of the town, CLICK ON THE IMAGE to see the exhibition in zine form.
• Traditional Owners = kabi kabi People
• South Eastern QLD biogeographic region
• Mean annual temps; H - 26.7 L - 16.4
• Mean annual rainfall; 1026mm
• Population; 1,165
• Elevation 6 m
• median age = 61 (there are still wild tales
of naked Main street runs)
• The sub-tropical climate means beer tastes good all year round.
• High Ground water, 3-4m below the surface
• The main street is the common living room
Whilst Fraser Islands sand is fine and blows across the island making dunes Woodgate sits inside a sheltered bay to the west of the island. This means it doesn’t get this fine sand and it’s beaches are made up of shells and larger aggregate sand.
Found on Woodgate beach the colouring is amazing similar to the sand itself.
Woodgate gets a strong sea breeze for large parts of the year. Whilst this is good to take the edge of the heat during summer it can be a bit battering. The Casuarinas that are planted along the top of the beach buffer this wind.
Woodgate started as a small fishing village, remnants still remain
As Woodgate gentrifies so does it’s architecture.
Raised off the ground with planting all around to lower ambient temperatures and breezes. A classic design technique used for millennia.
We think this “L” shaped shack is the best on the street. Angled to capture both the SE and NE prevailing breezes, planting cools the ambient temperature and provides privacy for the living spaces to the street.
You can see where the raised section under the house has been filled in for storage. A common practice to gain a little more enclosed space.
When the lights in the communal camp kitchen turn off automatically at 9pm we made do with the back of the toilet block which even has a sink for tea and coffee facilities!
Hosted by the local RSL we took advantage of the half-time break of the ladies Bolivia card game to talk about our week study. So whilst they sipped on their half strength coffee we dissected the architecture of Woodgate. Thanks to the lady who gave us $5 to help us on our way!
The great dividing range, the major geographical feature of the east coast. Wonderful riding through lovely country. Remember the green.