Bamboo Yurt Workshop

Join us in this hands-on workshop where we share our knowledge and skills from years of experience working with this amazing material. We will be building an 8 meter bamboo yurt, creating a usable, undercover area that is both beautiful and sustainable. The yurt structure is economical, eco-friendly, strong and can be built in many configurations to suit your site requirements.

This workshop will include:

• Introduction to bamboo and its building properties
• Site visit to learn about pole selection and harvesting
• Ways to treat bamboo against insects and fungi
• Building techniques for working with bamboo such as splitting, cutting, lashing and joinery and the tools required
• Making and assembling a bamboo yurt structure and roof

No prior experience necessary

Your Tutors:

Don Corben

Don, otherwise known as Donnie or Donnie Bamboo, has been building with bamboo for many years – he’s run courses/workshops around Australia and been involved with bamboo installations at various festivals over the years.

He originally came from a traditional hardwood building background; bearers, joists, stud frames, etc, where it was very important to get everything square and straight. Bamboo building is not like that. Bamboo is a simple, beautiful, flexible material that you can grow in your yard. It's also light and easy on your back. You can harvest (log), cut (mill), treat and build with a very small tool kit. You don't need any large, heavy machinery and the bamboo can be transported on your roof rack.

Jules Hartmann

Jules has been involved in the bamboo industry for nearly 30 years. Her key areas of expertise are plantation establishment and maintenance for shoots or timber, including propagation, nursery skills, harvest and curing of bamboos, and bamboo crafting. She has worked extensively in East Timor developing local bamboo skills and materials to empower people with new techniques and designs for housing, village development, furniture making and for cultivating and treating bamboo.

She was also a contributing author to the Bamboo chapter of the Tropical Permaculture Guidebook. Jules loves learning and sharing her knowledge about anything that is sustainable (especially bamboo) and believes that teaching is the best way to help the planet in these challenging times.

Course Fees

Course Fees are fully subsidised for eligible students, a resource fee applies to all enrolments.

ACE Program Fee: $0* (plus resource fee of $50) - most NSW residents are eligible for this subsidised fee!
Full Fee: $250

This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.

*Student eligibility for ACE Program Fee

To be eligible for government subsidised training through the ACE Program, you must:

Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen; and
Live or work in New South Wales; and
Be aged 15 years or older;
No longer be at school or equivalent; and
Provide the College with your USI at the time of enrolment (admin staff can assist you in obtaining a USI);

For more information or to find out if your are eligible for the $0 fee call our office on 02 6684 3374.

What to bring

Wear comfortable clothes suitable to work outside in, strong sturdy shoes, sun protection, wet weather gear if required

Bring own lunch and refreshments

Important information

Once your enrolment is completed you will receive a confirmation email. This email will be your receipt and inform you of the dates, time and venue of your course, it will also let you know of anything you need to take to class with you.

Please make sure that you give us a valid email address and mobile number as any course changes will be communicated via sms or email.

Students are required to be 15 years old and above at the time of enrolment.

Click here to read our Refund Policy

We keep our class sizes small so that you get a better experience. Avoid disappointment, enrol early!