6 minute read
OBITUARY
WAIHEKE ISLAND’S “Queen Mudder”
Remembering the life and legacy of EBANZ Patron, Jenny Wallace - and her 30 year dream.
Advertisement
BY MARION BRIDGE
Jenny Wallace was our EBANZ Patron from
November 2003. She died peacefully in her sleep on January 13th at Edenvale Rest Home, age 90. Despite her determination to stay at “Chiara”, ill health determined otherwise.
In her life story recorded by a local Hospice worker she says, “I was always a loner.” She was born in Australia on 5th March 1930. In 1953 she backpacked through Europe and on her return in 1954 she saw Australia in a different light. In 1961 she moved to New Zealand, travelling again and taking various jobs. It was in 1964 that she was introduced to Waiheke Island, she describes it as her “paradise isle”. Her interest in earth building was sparked earlier in 1961 by the remarkable Charlotte Larkin’s story of building her earth cottage “Puawananga – The Adobe Cottage’’ in Long
Beach, Russell during the 1940s. I only know of one copy of this tiny book recording the hardships, trials and errors of building. Charlotte began building in 1941 when she was 60. She recalls, “the idea to use ‘Mother Earth’ became an obsession”. Charlotte’s gorse covered section was purchased for 40 pounds, she cleared it and began experimenting with clay, sand, gravel and shell. One day, noticing a cow pat with grass and soil attached, she experimented with pure clay, cow pat and grass. It will be sad if this gem of a little book is not made available again. Other inspiration for Jenny came from her purchase in 1966, for 50 cents, of G.K. Middleton’s ‘Earth Wall Construction’, also know as ‘CSIRO Bulletin 5’. In 1980 after much searching and little funds she found a site with wonderful gulf views. “But alas, it was half an acre, steep and unthinkable for an earth building. But not impossible I thought.” Jenny writes, “I apologise to you Thijs Drupsteen for not involving you, for you would never have let that mad mud woman from Aussie go ahead. In the end Thijs as earth engineer and Graeme North as architect whole heartedly backed my project.” In her life story Jenny writes, “Your dedication and work keep flowing on. You both have my admiration and appreciation. Earth houses are nourishment for the soul.”
PHOTO, LEFT The exterior view of Jenny’s house on Waiheke
PHOTO, RIGHT - Jenny with arched doorways in progress
PHOTO BELOW, TOP The boys in Jenny’s round window
PHOTO BELOW, MIDDLE Brick makers with John Collins
PHOTO BELOW, BOTTOM Detail - Joinery and earth brick
PHOTO, OPPOSITE PAGE - Jenny Wallace, looking regal with earth brick in hand
Jenny was a Franciscan and was excited by finding a quote from Francis of Assisi 11661221, “Build simply in clay and wood.” Jenny took this as a message for her plan to build.
She credits many people for help in her build; designer Ron Grant, builders Nick Parker and Andrew McLay, and Hugh Morris, Engineering Lecturer at the University of Auckland. John Collins, brick maker, and his workers came from Opotiki. By this time Jenny’s health and strength were fading. She was able to have 160 tons of dry, volcanic red soil on Waiheke delivered to as area of the then Mitre 10 site. The boss offered the site and provided pallets for the made bricks. 500 pressed bricks were made in 6 days. As the bricks were not high in tensile strength it was decided to use a post and beam system. Macrocarpa posts were used for load bearing with the bricks as the infill. An abandoned telephone pole from the swamp in Te Matuku Bay on the island was the pivotal post in the living room. Jenny was totally in charge of the design, including the huge, round window which framed her important view. Jenny says, “Visiting engineers have since asked me, would I have gone ahead with the project had I known what it entailed? Building in earth on a steep site with difficult access. This included extensive retaining walls, extra strength footings and foundations, just the whole logistical catastrophe. Bricks delivered to the roadside, manhandled singly by pallets down the hill to the site. Later, delivery trucks having to be hauled out by one another, for all of that I just smiled and said, “Yes, although be advised by Thijs, a flat site is a sweet way.” “Chiara, a happening house, grew as we went along. I laid the first brick and cut the corner stone of my bedroom doorway. The boys dubbed me “The Queen Mudder”. I was on site supervising, encouraging, dog’s body and each day of the 10 months of building I saw it go from conception to full realisation. I was awed by the workmanship, the enthusiasm and total dedication of my team and all others involved to achieve my dream.
PHOTO, TOP - Jenny with Nick Parker and Andrew McLay
At 62 I was a child with mud, ecstatic with my dream castle as every day it took shape. It was surprising that progress was made at all, so great was the interest from locals and afar that Nick and Andrew were inundated daily by interested onlookers and a couple of sceptics, mainly builders, but mostly genuine enquiries wanting the know-how of building with earth. All this was fanned by Chiara being catapulted into the media by being the first, new, earth house built in the Auckland City Council area and Waiheke Island. My dream had been that if I could get the building approved by the authorities by being architecturally designed and well-engineered for the site, others could have an easier access to building approval through councils. It is a basic need, steered by Graeme and Thijs who worked tirelessly to fulfil this need. They and the many others involved are to be congratulated for such dedication in getting the earth building standards approved.” Jenny quotes the many programmes and articles that followed. She had so many visitors she gave up counting at 600. Finally, she voices her regret that ill health kept her from following up the new wave of earth houses built and kept her from sharing in all the AGM’s and tours. “I was sorry for missing all the wonderful collective enthusiasm, the creative activity and fun. But thanks to EBANZ magazines I have shared the spirit. I was chuffed that the young, and not so young, had made it happen. Yippee!”
AUTHOR BIO Marion Bridge came late to earth building when she discovered it on Waiheke Island and helped build her mudbrick home in 1998. She has been an advocate of earthbuilding ever since. She finds the annual conferences inspiring with new ideas, new young blood and enthusiasm.
