As part of the International Straw Bale Building Conference (ISBBC) to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU), The Hall of Conciliation will be erected almost entirely from straw – one of the country’s most underutilised and wasted resources, according to organiser and President of the Australian Straw Bale Building Association, John Glassford, who, with his wife Susan, donated the land to the project.

Delegates for the conference, which will be held from 1 to 7 December, will travel from America, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, France and around Australia.

It is the first time the international event has been held in Australia.

“The conference will highlight the Riverina in New South Wales as an area where the supply of abundant quantities of straw is available,” Mr Glassford said. “The fact that over 600 000 tonnes of rice straw is burnt annually in the Riverina, which could build some 44 000 average size Australian homes is highly significant.”

Topics to be discussed at the ISBBC will be straw as a sustainable technology, straw engineering, understanding sustainability, the art of sustainable design and costs involved with straw bale constructions.

Guests and speakers will include some of the world’s leading straw bale supporters including well-known sustainable building activist President of the Development Centre for Alternative Technology, David Eisenbert, from Tucson Arizona. 

During the first half of each day of the conference, delegates who work in fields such as architecture, engineering and building will travel to Ganmain where they will take part in construction of the hall.

“The Hall of Conciliation will become a focal point to bring together all Australians of all ages to learn from the Wiradjuri people about their culture, music, art, history and language,” Mr Glassford said.