Geoffrey Feltus, together with some others, built the stone barn at Coulthard House, Nuriootpa in the 1970’s and says he is lucky to be able to use his skill and abilities again and contribute to the restoration project.
The final works to Coulthard House which were funded in the former State Government’s Fund My Neighbourhood initiative were unveiled on Friday night and it is hoped to be the start of more functions to be held at the iconic Nuriootpa site.
Geoffrey had a building licence to initially start on the stone barn shed in the winter of 1978.
Forty years on and now retired, the skilled stonemason was asked to return and one of his major tasks was to build a fire place in the stone barn.
“Thank you for the new life that these outbuildings now have,” said Geoffrey.
“It’s great I’ve come back… I struggled because I am older now but I am lucky I can still do that and have the opportunity.”
It was Nuriootpa Futures Association’s Jane Willson that got Geoffrey interested when the grant was received which would enable the barn and other outbuildings to become more usable and functionable.
“Jane wondered if I could build a large open fire place that breathed warmth and now life into the whole barn shed,” said Geoffrey.
“There is a skill in getting the angles right… so the fire burns efficiently.
“I’ve always used the old late 17th century successful designer, Count Rumford. They are designed to radiate lots of heat out.
“It’s great to see Jane and others had a vision and stuck with it for the benefit of us all and it is great it’s going to be put to good use.”
