More than just the garage

hudson48 · Feb 3, 2008

We owned an unusual home built in 1919 from cement and cinderblock.
Unfortunately there was no technology in that era and with too much flyash
in the mix and no damp courses,lack of cement cover over the steel reo
meant the house was doomed.
We lived in it for 12 years and decided it was time to go.Being on a large block close to the city and demand for new housing meant we could develop the site and build 2 homes for resale and our own new house that will incorporate everything we want.
It will be built along the style of the old house for external visual appearance
with a lot of the old entry either reproduced and reused(original front door,
foyer floorboards,pillars etc).
The main feature for me however will be the 4 car garage built as a double
width tandem with a 4 post hoist at the left rear to take another car if needed and to use for maintenance.

The first several pics show he condition of the house and that justifiies the demolition of what a lot of people considered to be "of historical significance"
Fortunately the authorities agreed that it could not be salvaged and they were very happy that we would be reproducing the visual appearance of the original house.

hudson48 · Feb 3, 2008

The house will be 2 levels with the rumpus and secondary bedrooms downstairs and then a step down from the rumpus to the garage.

The rumpus room will be decorated in a 50's diner style,booth and pool table.

There will be glass windows along the wall looking down into the garage that run approximately 5.2 metres(17feet) so that you can look down into the garage and check out the cars.

The garage is 13.35 metres(44 feet) x 6.5metres(21 feet) and ceiling
4metres(13feet)

Construction is progressing well with the 2 houses for resale coming up and the slab for the garage poured hopefully next week(lots of rain here at the moment,been a drought for 7 years and now we are building the rain comes)

Our framing should start in a few weeks.Completion is expected around June or July.

The first 2 cars to occupy the spaces will be the Riviera and the Hudson.

Mr. Welsh · Feb 3, 2008

You lived in that for twelve years? Wow...must have been rough. Sounds like a great project! Are you doing the other two houses at the same time?

The weather there looks great. I'm flying to Brisbane on Wednesday. Can't wait for some warm weather.

hudson48 · Feb 3, 2008

It didn't start to show real detoriation inside until after about 10years,although we knew what it was like underneath.It was a fun house
while we lived there but not setup for modern living.

Only one bathroom,2 bedroom(we converted the third to a bar/pool room)
and not car friendly garaging.When friends came to stay they had to sleep on the lounge floor on the blowup beds.

The main thing going for it was the elevated position and the size of the block
(48 perches/1225 sqm)We end up with 500 sqm all pretty much covered by house.

All 3 are being built together sell 2 to help pay for ours

Kevin54 · Feb 3, 2008

Did that house have the plaster trim? It looks like it was in the pic of the ceiling. Can't wait to see the pics of the new.

Now let's see some more pics of the Hudson. That looks swwweeeet!!!

WhooHoo this is my 500th post. 3 years later. LOL!!! I'm on here almost every day, but guess I don't have a lot to say. LOL!!

Bring on the pics Hudson and welcome aboard.

rsanter · Feb 3, 2008

I love the old houses but as you know there are problems with them. my dream house would look like it was built back then with all the technology and efficiency we can do today

great project, have fun with it

bob

SILVERPLATE · Feb 3, 2008

Looks like a lot of work but very rewarding! Love the Riv!

hudson48 · Feb 3, 2008

Just to confirm that most of the pics were taken during the demolition process.I will look for some earlier photos to show the original house

Kevin 54:The ceilings and the cornice were plaster but the decorative arches
were moulded in cement and that is why you can see the cracks right through the wall.

Pouring rain again today and the rest of the week doesn't look good.At least the builders can work inside the other 2 houses doing fitout

Some pics of the Hudson

toadjammer · Feb 3, 2008

Really nice Hudson. What was that green car in the first pic with the Riv?

hudson48 · Feb 4, 2008

The green car is a 2004 Holden Ute(Utility).Made by General Motors here and runs the 5.7 Gen 3 with 4 speed auto.That one is the SS with the options like leather seats,sports trim inside etc.

engnerdan · Feb 4, 2008

hudson48 said:
The green car is a 2004 Holden Ute(Utility).Made by General Motors here and runs the 5.7 Gen 3 with 4 speed auto.That one is the SS with the options like leather seats,sports trim inside etc.

Not to get off track but that is a cool looking car.

fast01gt · Feb 4, 2008

I hear Pontiac is going to be bringing that one to the states like they did the GTO.

sharpshooter · Feb 5, 2008

hudson48 said:
The green car is a 2004 Holden Ute(Utility).Made by General Motors here and runs the 5.7 Gen 3 with 4 speed auto.That one is the SS with the options like leather seats,sports trim inside etc.

Can we get some pics of that

Kevin54 · Feb 5, 2008

I hear Pontiac is going to be bringing that one to the states like they did the GTO.

I heard that is just a rumor too. It would be nice if they would. And why is it Aussies have all the cool stuff? LOL!!!

hudson48 · Feb 5, 2008

A new model ute has been released and you can go to the website for details

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=15

and some more great ideas from Australia
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=20

Will get some photos of my green one up on the weekend

850pete · Feb 6, 2008

G'day,

Sounds like you will have a nice place there when your finished! The style of the surrounding houses would have me guessing Nundah area??

Love the Hudson, I saw it on display at the Brisbane HotRod show a few years ago and was astounded with the quality of the build, Very nice work and great looking car!!

All the best
Pete

HOTFR8 · Feb 6, 2008

Did that Hudson come from Ararat in Vic ? I recall it many years ago at a show in Adelaide.

hudson48 · Feb 6, 2008

No different Hudson.I think the one you remember is the maroon colored one built by John Katzansis(Johns Rod & Custom).Looks similar but they used the coupe body.It is still around.I saw pictures in a recent Cruzin or Australian Street Rodder

HOTFR8 · Feb 7, 2008

hudson48 said:
No different Hudson.I think the one you remember is the maroon colored one built by John Katzansis(Johns Rod & Custom).Looks similar but they used the coupe body.It is still around.I saw pictures in a recent Cruzin or Australian Street Rodder

Must be another Hudson as the one I am thinking about was built in Ararat and not by Chopper ( John K ). the one I am thinking about was upholstered in SA.

MIB · Feb 7, 2008

Hey Hudson, Looks like you've got a good project on the go, how's the site hold up to Wednesdays storm? Where abouts in Bris is your place? I've just finished a reno on a 50's Post War in Bulimba but can't imagine trying to do anything with a 1919 cinderblock... wow! Oh, no garage pics for mine

Lot was too small and council were a bit strict...

On the SS ute, they were originally discussing importing it to the US as an 'El Camino' but then changed the idea to a Pontiac due to the GTO I believe.

hudson48 · Feb 7, 2008

MIB said:
Hey Hudson, Looks like you've got a good project on the go, how's the site hold up to Wednesdays storm? Where abouts in Bris is your place? I've just finished a reno on a 50's Post War in Bulimba but can't imagine trying to do anything with a 1919 cinderblock... wow! Oh, no garage pics for mine Lot was too small and council were a bit strict...

On the SS ute, they were originally discussing importing it to the US as an 'El Camino' but then changed the idea to a Pontiac due to the GTO I believe.

We are in Nundah.This is no reno,a full build of a new house replicating all the nice features of the old one.I enjoy going to Bulimba,get the Citycat over from Hamilton and enjoy all the delights of Oxford St(especially the pub).

We had all the footings dug for our perimeter wall and the side steps and the
garage slab.On Thursday morning it was like a lap pool with a deep water section where the steps will go.

Fortunately work is progressing on the other houses inside while the weather is like this.

Plushy · Feb 8, 2008

Sorry to Divert the thread .

U.S.A will be getting this Pontiac:

Back on topic nice Hudson ! I look forward to seeing some progress photos . :bounce:

dipper · Feb 8, 2008

The hudson is a sweet looking car. It sounds like you are building up a nice new home for it. Keep the pics coming.

hudson48 · Feb 9, 2008

Update Saturday 9th February

The rain stopped long enough for our builder to schedule the concrete pours today.They must have started early as the garage slab was done before I got there mid morning.

hudson48 · Feb 9, 2008

And there's more.Some shots of the view from the rear deck on the top house looking back to the city and across to the Gateway Bridge over the Brisbane River.
One shot looking down to our lower level from the top house

hudson48 · Feb 29, 2008

Well at last I can post some new pics.Rain held us up but now full steam ahead.Framing going up,first floor bases down in a couple of weeks,and should be lock up stage(before internal fitout,drywall,etc) by end of May.

The garage ceiling height is over 4 metres(13 feet),will lose a little for concealed lighting but still plenty of
space for 4 post hoist.

hudson48 · Feb 29, 2008

And a few more with some of other downstairs section of house.

Captain · Mar 9, 2008

I'm envious of your floorplan being able to see into the garage from the rumpus room.
I've always thought it'd be great to bring the cars/bikes into the house by some form of open layout with glass partitions.
Well thought out with the differing levels on a sloping block. :thumbup:

GarageFreak · Mar 9, 2008

WOW!! Very nice Hudson. Looks like you'll be busy for a little while. :thumbup:

hudson48 · Mar 16, 2008

Time for some progress pics.The floor joists for the top floor of the house are now in and all the downstairs framing and reinforcing done.The garage is now starting to take shape.Lots more to go before we are finished but the vision is now becoming a reality.
Working on the design and layout of the rumpus room.Will be in 50's diner theme,with booth table and seats,diner bar with stools for seating,pool table,and display cabinets for model cars and other memorabilia.
Of course the glass windows(16 feet long) to look down into the garage.

Kevin54 · Mar 16, 2008

Hudson...do they always build houses so close over there? It llooks like the one behind you and the one beside you..you could stand in your house, open a window, and just hold a conversation with them both. Looks to be only about 6' between.

hudson48 · Mar 16, 2008

Kevin54 said:
Hudson...do they always build houses so close over there? It llooks like the one behind you and the one beside you..you could stand in your house, open a window, and just hold a conversation with them both. Looks to be only about 6' between.

We are building all three.We have designed them to provide a high level of privacy to each other.The back wall of ours and the one on the top side does not expose any of our living areas to theirs.Our aspect from the front and our deck(above the garage) does not impact on the others.We will look
over the roof of the bottom house when standing on the deck of ours.

We are on a corner so we have a big advantage.We really wanted a house
that would let us just lock up and go away without all the yard maintenance
and other work.My wife says the house has been designed around the garage.She got that right.

In Brisbane there is a shortage of available land in the inner city so the large
blocks are split usually into 400sqm and the houses are about 3 to 4 metres
(13 to 17 ft) apart.In some areas where they build the townhouses(3 or 4
on a 600sqm block) the houses actually share common walls.

HOTFR8 · Mar 16, 2008

Plushy said:
Sorry to Divert the thread .

U.S.A will be getting this Pontiac:

Back on topic nice Hudson ! I look forward to seeing some progress photos .

Sorry to go off topic again but I see there is a competition to name it.

Please call it a Ute as that is what it is called here. A Utility vehicle.

JohnK007 · Mar 16, 2008

I was fooling around on the Holden website, building myself a pretend Rodeo and a Commodore SS. Holy smokes! You fellows pay dearly for new cars. Both were way over $50,000 by the time I added a few meager extras. I thought, OK that's in Aussie dollars, but when you do the exchange your dollar is ony about 6 cents short of ours, so a $50,000 car to you is still $47,000 to us! That's an expensive Commodore (Impala)! What struck me funny were the license plate brackets. Here the dealers give them to you for a little free advertising, there they cost $52!! I'll say one thing in admiration, you follks sure like the big V8! 6.0L developing a little over 340 HP is a nice package.

Sorry to digress from the topic. Your build looks great and your maximum use of land to help offset the cost of your own home is a great idea. I'm really looking forward to seeing the final product!
Best wishes,
John

Mr. Welsh · Mar 17, 2008

I've heard rumors about GM or Ford bringing a Ute to the US for years. In my opinion the Ute is as Australian as the kangaroo, and it will not make sense to Americans used to their traditional pickup trucks. The unwashed will see a new El Camino; everyone will be bewildered at what exactly it's intended to haul.

But I acknowledge that I just don't get it, even for the Aussie market. What do I know - I thought the Holden Monaro would be hugely popular in the US.

cdrewferd · Mar 17, 2008

Great looking place. Can't wait to see the finished pics.

More than just the garage

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