When Chris and Michelle Hetherington bought an old house north of Perth, they realised they needed to 'makeover' the garden. They also needed extra space in the house. They achieved both aims with a covered garden room or pavilion between the house and garden, which provides an entertainment space with a wood-fired oven instead of the traditional backyard barbecue.

Dining alfresco

Chris and Michelle love entertaining friends in their outdoor room and Chris particularly loves cooking on the wood-fired oven. Although wood-fired pizza ovens have been around for ages, this locally designed and built version can cook everything, not just pizzas. Chris uses his oven to cook roasts, chops, sausages, steak, fish, vegetables and bread. A breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms cooks in just a few minutes.

Break from tradition

According to David and Liz Keogh, the days of the backyard barbie may be over. David began designing and building wood-fired ovens in 1999. He perfected the insulation so that the oven works like a kiln, creating a 500-degree heat on the inside but remaining cool enough to touch on the outside. The oven uses very little firewood and it only takes about 30 minutes to heat. It doesn't need cleaning and it is a very quick and casual way of outdoor cooking - no need to turn the sausages!

Cost and availability

Up to $4,000. The ovens are fully constructed in Perth and they can be sent Australia-wide. They come complete with instructions on building the brick base, and once installed they can be decorated or mosaics added.

Contact information

Mediterranean Woodfired Ovens
Unit 2, 216 Balcatta Road
Balcatta WA
Phone: (08) 9402 3862
Fax: (08) 9401 9340
Email: medovens@westnet.com.au
Web: www.woodfiredovens.com.au

Copyright CTC Productions 2002