Fire pit with gabion basket seating

[FixerDownUnder]

When we moved into our house, the original owners had left a very large pile of granite rocks and boulders on one side of the block. Rather than trying to dispose of them, we decided to create a fire pit to add a feature. The garden is on a natural slope, so the boulders formed the retaining wall, and the rocks filled three large gabion baskets to make the seating. We added some plants and a bird bath to make this a year-round feature. No machinery was used to create this area.

Materials

Granite rocks and boulders already on our property

Large gabion baskets (two at 1m x 50cm x 50cm, and one at 2m x 50cm x 50cm)

Crushed limestone for fire area (bulk purchase)

Grevillea plants

Fire pit (no longer on Bunnings website)

Treated pine decking boards for the seats:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/90-x-22mm-decking-h3-treated-pine-2-4m_p8032583  

Brackets to join to decking boards to make seats:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-600-x-20-x-1mm-galvanised-flat-plate-make-a-bracket_p3975874 

Dulux Weathershield paint in Ticking for the seats.

Bench cushions:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/mojo-grey-outdoor-bench-cushion_p0496624 

Bird bath - Northcote Pottery from Bunnings (no longer on website)

Travertine pavers for approach pathways:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/cliftonvale-610-x-406-x-30mm-travertine-natural-stone-paver_p0131434 

Rainbow quartz gravel around the plants as mulch:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ki-carma-18kg-rainbow-quartz-landscape-stones_p0129333 

Tools

Steps

Step 1

The area was just a sandy slope to start with. First we had to move the granite boulders and rocks from the side of the garden to the middle where we wanted the fire pit. We didn't have the budget to hire machinery, so used leverage and brute force to push the boulders into place 🤣 The rocks were transferred to the gabions via wheelbarrow. The 3rd photo below shows the rock pile once most had already been moved.

Step 2

Once the gabion baskets were filled, we made the seats by joining decking boards with flexible brackets so they would fit on top of the gabions.

Step 3

We then completed the rest of the landscaping including crushed limestone for the fire pit area's floor, the fire pit itself, cushions, the bird bath and planting.

[JacobZ]

Hi @FixerDownUnder,

What an incredible transformation! 

Turning a pile of leftover granite into a stunning fire pit and seating area is such a clever and resourceful idea. 

The way you’ve used the natural slope, incorporated gabion baskets, and finished it all off with details like the bird bath makes the space both functional and beautiful. 

Congratulations on a job well done and thank you for sharing.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good morning @FixerDownUnder 

Now thats a nice way to reuse those rocks activley It would be a very relaxing spot you have creayted espcially with the firepit!

So a couple of questions:) ?

Do you think the gabion basket has helped slow the water running down the hill?

How did  you work out the distance from the firepit to the baskets to get the "best" toasty ratio?

Is there anything you would change if you redid it or added to it?

Dave

[FixerDownUnder]

Hi @Dave-1 To answer your questions: 

I think the gabions help to break up the slope but the slope is pretty variable across the garden - its hard to explain, but the gabions are actually on the least steep section.

The "toasty ratio" determination was more luck than judgement 🤣 We did the construction then bought the fire pit from Bunnings that we thought would work, and luckily it was perfect for the space.

And to be honest I don't think we would change anything... except maybe the Perth weather as the fire pit season isn't long enough! 😉

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @FixerDownUnder 

lol Yeah, I was going to put a firepit in front of my gabion seats as well but in the end I decided not to. For me it wa sthe seasons as well plusit would be something else to keep tidy The seats do their job without complant and do it well

Perth winter... is that a thing?

Dave