Primitive Camping in Australia / Building a Bark Bushcraft Shelter

[@edwardfletcher7790]

You know it's an Aussie Bushcraft channel when you need a 6ft crow bar to dig 6" into the rock hard Australian dirt 🤣 I've found the Felix Immler double bow string technique is easier and more stable for those like me with only a little experience 👍

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

😂 Yeah our rock hard soil has claimed many a tent peg in the past. Thanks for watching.

[@WaterholeExchange]

The land I bought in Wallangra NSW (Bigambul Country, Kamilaroi Nation) has remnants of scarred trees that at first confused me, till I realised the larger scarrings that are not shaped like coolamon or shield (tools, etc) were for shelters. Cheers for sharing.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

That really is wonderful. It's great seeing scarred trees from the past! Thanks for watching.

[@Aileen-n1u]

Good to see your combining our too culture s together. . Very interesting . Very educational. ❤😊

[@OutdoorAcademyAustralia]

A great build and history lesson mate. Looks like it woulda been a tough night. A night by the fire is a reminder of how lucky, (and soft lol), we are. Cheers mate

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks for watching mate. It's always great spending a night by the fire. Just had a look at your channel and I'm looking forward to watching more of your vids .. I really need to touch up on my knot tying so looks like you got some useful information there.

[@OutdoorAcademyAustralia]

@@TheBeardedBushranger Cheers mate. I'm looking forward to doing some overnight survival vids soon so maybe a collaboration is in our future.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

@@OutdoorAcademyAustralia Where abouts are you based?

[@OutdoorAcademyAustralia]

@@TheBeardedBushranger Appin NSW but I travel down to Vic a bit. Especially the Gold triangle.

[@ronaldwhite5670]

The only one and two man coverage was needed by young men, warriors, tribal punishment men, forced to leave the tribe for some reason.

[@antnewbon2673]

Was that to turn to a man or just your a nob. Be good we will c ya later.

[@Isxiros100]

Great vid mate. Its so easy for people to forget about the resources around them, especially when they are out bush and in need of sustance/ shelter. Our land may look barren, but its actually very rich. Im lucky enough to have an indigenous partner, and although she isnt that cultural, ive definitely learned a lot from her mob. Nice to see a bit of history/ indig knowledge being presented in a relevent way.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Hey mate, that is great to hear!! I tend to stick to the swagman stuff cause it's a history I know better! But I am facinated with indigenous history and do try to learn where I can. What has been eye opening for me though is living in Africa for 10 years, and marrying my wife who is Ugandan. Living over there for that long and becoming family, I have learnt so many similar things (but from the African contintent experience) on how resources were used, foods were grown and gathered, the culture etc. Thanks for watching.

[@yuriy_kondor]

Got here from watching the silly swagman, now I'm watching your videos and I'm glad I found another great channel! Just subscribed. Oh and I'm the one that called you tom bombadil! Lol

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Good to hear you came over from Mattsys! Seems we have another LOTR fan here then

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

Every morning I wake up in winter i think of how tough our indigenous forebears must have been. Hardy doesn't cover it.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Absolutely. We have grown a bit soft I think.

[@cookscatapults]

That was Awesoenessssss....Thanks from the Foot Hills of Georgia.....

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Cheers mate! I'm sure Georgia gets much colder though during your winter.

[@TasHikingAdventures]

Love the indigenous history even here in Tassie......great video mate....she's colder down here I was out in -3c the other night but was in a tent and sleeping bag...hats off loved that video great work 👍💪🍻

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

That is cold mate! I was up in the Vicco high country last week just with the sheep skin and it was getting down to the -1.c -2.c temps. I reckon Tassie would get plenty of those kind of nights.

[@TasHikingAdventures]

@@TheBeardedBushranger just gets colder even when you get up into the high country and mountains....it's those roaring 40 winds that wreck us down here esp in Hobart areas where I am.....

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

@@TheBeardedBushranger coldest I have slept in and known the temp was -5C up at Newnes near Lithgow. I woke up and our tent ws surrounded by wallabies and my first thought was how warm would those skins be! Hats off to our indiginous forebears; tough as old boots.

[@UrbanKiwiana]

Mate that shelter was Hella cool, I've not slept by a fire for a while but growing up my family were hard out Campers with no luxuries I loved it. Since then I've always loved been out in nature just barefoot ,.it's kept me grounded. Can't be going barefoot around New Zealand though 😂. Really glad I found your channel you've a really good vibe..and great content.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

I remember reading stories about school kids walking to school in NZ in bare feet and walking in cow paddies to warm their toes up haha

[@lesklower7281]

Back in the 1960s l actually saw a aboriginal humpy it was in the central west of N.S.W on a farm in a wooded area it was an A frame one l don't how long it had been there

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

That's a pretty special thing to see. I reckon they are still around up north.

[@stepbystep125]

You produce magnificent content. Thoroughly enjoying it.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Cheers mate, I appreciate it.

[@bestestusername]

Ohh what a yum fish, nothing better than straight off the coals, we did that to a yellowbelly at the Murray river a few years ago, unreal flavour

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah yellow belly is meant to be real nice as well!

[@realitycheck7556]

You are a bad ass man👍

[@samikhal5455]

What about scorpions and snakes etc…. How to you protect yourself p

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

In the winter most of those things are very slow and not moving around. In summer it's a different story and I prefer sleeping in a swag that's covered.

[@richardirmler435]

Yer mate. I lived in a humpy like that for years but my neighbours sub divided and put up 2 big very two story houses and I couldn't stand it so I moved.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Jeeze that would of been hard mate. Would of been an experience living in a humpy

[@ronaldwhite5670]

Mate, I luvya show but your comment “their shelter “ was small for two or more people. You’re wrong, the tribes slept together in as many numbers as they could, for warmth and protection!

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Cheers mate. No doubt they did. In my research I was reading about lots of little shelters gathered around each over. I have no doubt it must of varied from place to place .. it seems there is no one history for our indigenous as there were many tribes living in different locations with different customs. Definitely couldn't capture all that in this vid, which is why I put some links to local indigenous organisations from my area. Thanks for watching

[@MADDYSTICLE]

how does the fire stay burning just those logs and not spread to anything else?

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks for asking. So I always have a cleared area of about 1 to 2 metres around a fire where its just dirt .. so basically there is nothing to catch onto. Also in the winter time embers being blown by the wind is not really a problem because everything is so cold and damp it doesn't light easily. In summer this would be a very different case.

[@thejulesfather]

do you scale the fish before you put it on the coals?

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah I did for this one with a knife. But I imagine a sharp rock would work perfectly fine

[@Krh314]

really nice one mate, i hope you gonna upload more of those

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Definantly want to do more stripped back basic camps. Next month want to head up into the snow with only traditional gear. Thanks for watching.

[@normrathmann]

i heard that they would dig a shallow trench,place hot coals in the trench,cover with soil and lay on top to keep warm.I've just recently subscibed,enjoy your vids,keep them coming.Cheers

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks mate. Yeah I've heard this one as well! Often dogs would come in handy as well and sleep next to mobs to keep them warm.

[@jasonking7736]

@@TheBeardedBushranger yes, thats where the band "three dog night" got their name from, reading about it in an article on indigenous Australians

[@jermpoz2971]

NO FUNNEL WEB SPIDERS?? ON THE GROUND?

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Maybe ... just close your eyes and try and think about something else. Though in winter it's pretty quiet on the bug activity.

[@699hazard]

Great video mate! Definitely something primal about sleeping next to a fire on the ground. I think that's why swags/bed rolls are so popular, what part of Victoria are you from?

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Cheers mate. Yeah swags on the ground is a great feeling, especially with a fly or mesh that you can look out from. I'm near the Dandy ranges in Vicco.

[@699hazard]

@TheBeardedBushranger yeah falling asleep in a swag staring at a fire is awesome! Sweet, I'm in the La Trobe Valley

[@benw5691]

Thanks for adding the links in the description.

[@davidneal6920]

Outstanding example of a simple hut mate. Thank you 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks David!

[@kurts64]

Nice vid! Cool lookin camp set up, lookin forward to the high country survival vid too👍👍

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah that will be up next Sunday!

[@DiabloOutdoors]

Nice camp, nice shelter, awesome bowdrill technique. Cool images. Thumbs up!

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Cheers mate thanks for watching.

[@iantooke3549]

Worked with volly CFA in Rockchester when myself and some other army vetrans flew from wa help in floods in 2022 good bunch guys and ladys in cfa put on mean spread for lunch

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Good stuff mate, well done! That's great to hear. It has been a really good learning experience.

[@BushKayakersCampingAustralia]

good effort Luke . Not the best nights sleep . Gotta love the modern camping conveniences .

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks for watching ... I think I am slowly growing used to sleeping ok under these conditions though.

[@Peakoilcompany]

We need to get you a bigger sheepskin cover. That one is really just a bedroll from two skins. 6 skins will wrap you like a burrito. Possum though, that would be much better. Lighter, warmer.. expensive. Skins have to come in from NZ as they're protected here. Are you willing to include wool blankets? You can make a wool jacket and pants from about 3 queen size blankets. I think you'd sleep better if you ditched those lowrise jeans too. They stopped making highrise jeans in the 70s because the fashion offered then a small production saving. I can't believe how hard to is to find any high-rise pants these days! Unlike low-rise, they actually give the room you need for simple comfort! High rise and pleats will give you that. And i recommend bowangs with them too, not for sleeping, but for everything else. All belts off for sleeping. Likewise with shirts. Give yourself lots of room. Linen, hemp or cotton, but not polyester, it's bad for your skin, comfort and warmth. Personally, i wear hemp/cotton knit tshirt and pants as underwear, a possum silk knit sweater over that, no woven shirt, highrise heavy wool weave trousers up over that, heavy wool weave anorak over everything. A basic sheepskin vest if it's freezing. The old blanket wool is great to use for the pants and anorak. Maybe eco dye then for beauty. I can send you a pattern, or show you how to sew them, or trade you ready made. Then, i reckon a wool blanket or two for sleeping, waxed canvas poncho if it's windy or wet, that ridng coat is good, but a poncho is more versatile. All on your sheepskin bedroll or quilt. You'd be fine in a good shelter. For the fire, 60L oil drum with flu pipe sections in it, could make a portable rocket stove... Bring that heat into your larger shelter, store some hear in the ground... I like what you're doing. I want to innovate up from the base you're returning to.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

There is so much room to go into more depth with all this stuff isn't it. I think clothing will need to be the next thing. I have not even started venturing into old clothing yet! This is an area I really need to look into. The idea of a waxed canvas poncho does sound great! Double as a potential tarp and ground sheet. I've used my oil skin jacket as a ground sheet plenty of times. I use my wool blankets quite a bit, and on my survival trip I paird it with the sheep skin and it did great. I will be sending my current sheep skin to you when I get back from indonesia, and buy a bigger one (add onto it) as I want to do a snow challenge with the sheep skin!

[@Peakoilcompany]

@@TheBeardedBushranger I'm really looking forward to you're historical research abilities informing better clothing design for today. No worries with the sheepskin, I'll get you sorted for the snow. Have a lovely time in Indo. What a place that is! See you when you get back

[@Isxiros100]

Ive learnt you can use dry kangaroo or rabbit scat as tinder too.. needs to be very dry ....not sure thats helpful in your case though

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah that would make sense. I wonder if it gives off the same pungent smell like when you burn hair?

[@herbsmith6871]

Very cool Luke! Thanks for sharing my friend😎

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks Herb!

[@michaelsewell3706]

Thanks for sharing Luke , looking forward to the next adventure.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks mate, I'll be sharing next week a 3 day survival challenge

[@lesliemudford468]

We use to make a version of these. Used paperbark trees. Even done it so as to not ring bark the trees. Worked great just had to be careful with our fire.

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah all of the bark from here was done in a way to not ringbark the local trees. Paper would be great as well, but like you said .. wouldn't want to get a flame on it haha

[@sunnyrivers]

Interesting and enjoyable Luke🙌🏼😁

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thank you

[@MitchHall-kp8nv]

Awesome video Luke, very enjoyable mate!

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks mate, and thank you for your watching.

[@CBlueS-u4t]

good to see the gunyah on KZbin, I noticed the dead can appeared at 19:38 off to the side, nice fish (non spam)

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

A bit of cheeky beer around the fire at night 😂

[@DmitryKDV]

Thank you for video. I like for you do. Your not have snow in winther ?

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

We have snow but up in the mountains! About 1 to 2 hours from where I live.

[@kurts64]

Early Sunday mornin upload, nice!

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

haha it was meant to be scheduled for 4:00 pm but youtube messed up! Oh well.

[@JoshuaZammit-c4l]

What's that coat you're wearing called

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

It's a burke and wills short stockman jacket

[@JoshuaZammit-c4l]

@@TheBeardedBushranger thank you good sir

[@aaronwilliamson9140]

bloody awesome mate

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks for watching.

[@thejulesfather]

Nice one brother

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks for watching

[@ronaldwhite5670]

They didn’t move, stay…..half a day, a day. If they moved it was based on knowledge, where they were going, did they have the ability to move in physical terms, was it seasonally viable, was it safe, was there suitable resources where they were headed. They did not move into an area and set up “two and three man tents”. They practiced survival in numbers

[@Peakoilcompany]

I wish we had more references to the traditional ways of The Elders. The few we have are stark and fascinating, but I'm not sure how much we can rely on them. Do you know William Buckley's life and adventure? Written up by a newspaper man, full of action and drama, from an illiterate man who was always very reluctant to tell his stories. I hope that's a faithful account of his experiences, because what an interesting insight it carries.

[@iantooke3549]

Hey Luke u should do a vid on traditional navigation

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Now that is a great idea ... I just have to learn about it though 😆

[@iantooke3549]

@@TheBeardedBushranger I've been brush up on nav learnt in army for bush fire brigade here wa

[@Pink_Sky_By_Night_Adventures]

Great video 😊

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thank you

[@herbevans2727]

Good one Luke 👍

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Thanks herb

[@bryanmorrion9503]

I’m not sure but i have heard that the clan /mob would carry a branch or the like from place to place so the task of starting a new fire could be averted most times. ?🦘

[@TheBeardedBushranger]

Yeah, dried banksia seeds often smouldered away