Rustic hut built ahead of Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival

Donating his time, John Spanjer from The Busy Bees built the hut for the festival using lightweight donated materials from Westruss and Bunnings.

Mr Spanjer said he was asked to build a transportable hut by festival committee member David Williams.

“He gave me a scribble and he said ‘I would like to take it a few places’,” Mr Spanjer said.

Made out of pine, plywood, canvas and tea tree branches, the hut took a couple of days to complete, comes apart in seven pieces and can be assembled by two people. 

Mr Williams said inspiration came from the cottage at the Orange Botanic Gardens as well as old rabbiters cottages and depression era huts.

Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival committee chairman Len Banks said the hut would be used to promote Orange’s event at the Elvis festival in Parkes and at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“There’s a lot [of people] at Parkes, hopefully they might consider coming back to Orange in February,” Mr Banks said.

As well as taking the cottage to attract visitors at other festivals, Mr Banks said they would also have a competition to name the cottage using a Banjo Paterson or bush theme.

“We’ve also got a poetry competition that we are seeking entries for and there’s also an art competition that we are also seeking entries for,” he said.

The festival takes place at venues across Orange from February 12 to 17.

To earn fame from the hut competition email charlotte@tasteorange.com.au.