What are Dry Stone Walls?

Dry Stone Walls are walls constructed of stone pieced together in a way that the stones push against each other to provide a solid wall without the need for mortar. It is a general 'rule of thumb' that the width of the base of the Stone Wall should be half the measure of the height of the Wall and twice the width of the top of the Wall. From the base the stones are pieced together like a jig saw puzzle with both sides of the wall gradually leaning in together to create the strength of the wall. Larger, more sturdier stone is used at the base of the wall with the smaller stone being used at the top. Generally the wall is finished off with what is known as a Coping Stone, which is a larger stone place at the top to help hold the wall together. To help strengthen the wall and reduce the amount of space between the stones in the wall small pieces of rock and broken stone known as Heartings are used therefore creating a solid, neat stone wall that will last several lifetimes.

What are the Origins of Dry Stone Walls?

It is believed the origins of Dry Stone Walling in Australia can be traced back to the early 1800's when Immigrant Land Owners and Skilled Craftsmen used these walls to help clear the land of the large amount of stone within. Not only used to clear land of its stone these walls were also necessary to keep livestock, and to protect homes and crops from fire and rabbits. These Immigrant Land Owners were predominantly British, carrying on the tradition of their British predecessors, whom were believed to have been constructing walls in England, Ireland and Scotland for more than 2,000 years. Nowadays Stone Walls are used for a variety of purposes including the tradtional purpose of housing livestock as well as for Gateways, Garden Beds and Steps, Seats and Tables and various other structural purposes.

Why Use Dry Stone Walls?

Dry Stone Walls have many advantages over conventional walling methods such as your general Post and Wire fencing including:

1. A properly constructed Dry Stone Wall that is maintained appropriately will long outlast more conventional forms of fencing and walls due to their strength and the stones greater ability to withstand virtually any weather conditions.

2. Dry Stone Walls create greater weather protection for livestock based on the fact that a properly constructed wall will have only the slightest of gaps throughout providing protection against the weather elements.

3. Dry Stone Walls are made up of completely natural materials, which not only creates an attractive look and feel, but also attracts birdlife, plant life such as mosses, and small wildlife such as Frogs.

Dry Stone Walls also have many benefits over Wet Stone Walls based on the fact that over time the earth can move slightly causing the Mortar in Wet Stone Walls to crack and break apart. Due to the small pockets of space between the stone in a Dry Stone Wall, these Walls tend to move over time with the movements of the earth in which they stand upon.