I started this Project Mid 2017.
The fence line between the neighbous and my place didnt have a fence except for the back half of the yards.
I had an excess of rocks/concrete that I had in piles around the block and also some "decorative boulders that had to go.
The white stakes show the fence line extended from the colourbond fence in the middle of the yard.
I worked out the maximum size cage I could make from the mesh I had. And then pre-cut all the pieces up.
The spiral wrap is 3.4mm fencing wire (I think that was the size I got it from Bunnings) and I wrapped it tightly around a broom handle. Once I had filled the broom handle then I would stretch it out to this size by hand (Future versions I wound enough for maybe a few meters and then cut it into 60cm lengths for ease of use. ) One long length may be a stronger option but was a pain to thread.
The cage being spiraled together. I also had stay wires at a third of the height front to back so the cage would not buldge as I filled it. No matter how you stack the stone the cage will want to buldge so these are necessary.
Stretching the spiral out so it would wind nicely between each square wasnt hard to do. It is a surprisingly easy thing to build.
This is to show the first cage. The ground was uncompacted, I shaved the top two inches of grass and dirt off to make level. Where I live the ground has a high content of clay and is like concrete.
I used three cages all up, each the same size and staggered them down the hill with the intention of fixing rails or mesh or both between the cages to form a secure fence.
Just showing how little I impacted the ground. I really didnt want to build on losse fill.
The middle cage with the top taken off the soil and a little fill used to make it level. It really didnt make a difference as the cage settles evenly.
Rocks and concrete I had found on the block.
Layering the nicer stones. I really wanted it to shone so saved the sandstone pieces to face the front of the cage.
When I started the project in 2017 I did not own a sledge hammer. Now I do....
Layering the stones. Also The lid is attached to one side. This made it easy to keep the cage from buldging out.
The sandstone colouring really came up nice. I use dthe waste not so nice rocks in the middle of the wall (Think like a casle wall)
All done. Fairly happy with them This was finished oct 2017. During drought
The strength of a gabion wall... This is the impact point mid 2022 of an old school window air con unit being dropped on it from the first floor of next doors house. I have a few options to repai it. I intend to use a pull hammer and straighten it out but am a little concerned that the mesh welds will snap. Otherwise it will need to be pulled apart to replace the three damaged panels.
One way to test the strength of a fence... thats where the air con unit fell from. Since mid 2017 the cages really havnt moved out of true by more then 1cm if that. The impact of the air con didnt shift the cage. Very impressed with how good they hold up.
