Community & Business
22 October, 2024
Unique accommodation hits the market right on our doorstep
FigTree Country Retreat has recently launched its newest form of unique accommodation - a re-purposed double storey silo dubbed the “Star Gazing Silo” located only 20 kilometres outside Pittsworth.
This mammoth project has been underway for years, with the silo (originally sourced from a farm outside Millmerran) transported to FigTree on 15th February 2022.
FigTree owners, Ken Edwards and Ruth Ashburner-Gorse said they used old pavers and jacks to raise the silo to achieve the height of a two storey building.
Their vision for the silo was a bedroom upstairs, and a lounge room downstairs.
The couple did much of the renovation work themselves but sourced a number of items from local residents and suppliers.
The logs and timber pillars came from a mill outside Cecil Plains, the weathered roof sheets were from a Pittsworth resident, and one farmer donated an old barn door which was refurbished and used to complete the ensuite.
After the silo was installed, the couple decided to build a verandah to minimise temperatures during the hot summer.
A wood fire heater was installed to ensure the comfort of their guests during the cool Darling Downs winters.
The flue even extends all the way through to the roof, allowing for residual heat to warm the upstairs bedroom.
The couple purchased a staircase that was on the market at Stanthorpe, and Mr Edwards flew his Carbon Cub aeroplane south to collect the new buy and install it.
Mr Edwards used old disused aircraft parts, cable and pulleys, for the grain hatches to have an open and close mechanism, along with two large granite balls for counter weights.
This means guests are able to lie in bed at night and look up through the hatch at the Milky Way.
A separate barbecue hut was built in June, although not originally planned.
The official launch of the Star Gazing Silo took place on 29th September after 957 days of building and preparation.
Local suppliers, supporters and friends were invited to celebrate the launch over drinks and snacks, and to see the old grain silo that has been lovingly transformed into a unique piece of quality accommodation.
For more information about the Star Gazing Silo visit www.figtreecountryretreat.com.au
