The Wombat Group & Wombat Cubbies

It all started many years ago (around 1994) because of a little wooden wombat that was purchased in a obscure shop in Melbourne.  From this cute little wombat came a fascination with collecting all things wombatty!  As we learned more about wombats, the bigger our wombat collection grew.  After a move from Victoria to Queensland in 1995, there seemed to be even more wombat products and information to be found.  Eventually, we discovered the plight of the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats and their struggle for existence in a small pocket of national park in North Queensland.  What could we do to help?   A friend of ours created the wombat character "Clatter", well actually he drew us a wombat and we named him "Clatter".  Clatter was going to be our ticket to raise awareness for the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats.  We welcome you to use this site as an information or reference site for more information on wombats and in particular the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats.  Click here for more information on wombats.

What you should know before buying a cubby

The Wombat Group and is a reference site for gaining information on what to look for and what to ask about when looking for a cubby house, play fort, or playground equipment for your children.   The Wombat Group has worked closely with Child's Play Consultancy  to help families from the "Make A Wish" foundation create their dream playground for their sick children and also many Child Care Centres throughout Queensland.  If you would like more information on Child's Play Consultancy and their play space designing services, please go to www.childsplayconsultancy.com.au.

Roof
Does the cubby come with a Colorbond roof and is the full colorbond colour range available?  Some manufacturers have standard colours they use and may charge you more for a different colour.  Some cubby roofs are fully trimmed with timber surrounds, others are left bare.  A timber edge is neat and tidy and stops taller children from reaching the metal and cutting their fingers.  It is recommended that the timber along the sides of the roof be attached a good distance from the tin, so as to allow proper water run off and to stop leaves etc. catching on the roof.  (Making it a fire hazard)  Some cubby makers edge the roofing with a rubber strip to stop fingers being cut!

Cladding

Windows
Sliding perspex windows with no sharp angled edges are ideal, as long as the grooves are smooth enough for the windows to slide smoothly. Window frames can be trimmed with hardwood or treated pine.  Some cubby manufacturers prefer to use aluminum and glass windows.  Glass can be broken, especially if the window gets stuck and force is used to close it.  You need to check all the aluminum for smoothness, ensure there are no small bits sticking out, they can cut skin very easily.

Door
Some cubby retailers give you a choice of a full door or a stable door, sometimes called a barn door.  You need to check if there is any extra cost involved in getting the door you prefer.  Doors need to have gaps wide enough at the top, bottom and side to allow small fingers not to be caught in them.  If you choose a stable door, the gap between the two doors also needs to allow for a small hand to fit through.  Just in case of that slammed door by a sibling!

Floor
Ensure the flooring material is kiln dried so it does not warp.  Also ask if it has a waterproofing membrame over it for when those windows and doors are left open!

Verandah
Verandah's quite often have kiln dried treated pine posts and should be of a H5 treatment level with any verandah balustrading, decking or pickets being treated to a H3 level.  The tops of any balustrades need to be of a smooth finish, as little one's like to hold on and run their hands along these areas for support.  Always ensure there is enough room for a door to open right up and does not hit the front of the verandah posts.

Panel Kit Form Construction
Be careful and ask for a copy of installation instructions first, if you are attempting to install a cubby yourself.  Some kit's sound easy to put together but can end up going very wrong.  Some cubby suppliers only supply the timber and component's and you have to put it together yourself (a bit like a jigsaw).  Ensure you are equipped to handle the job.  You can seek out a professional cubby installer or utilise the services of the cubby provider if available.

Elevation kits are usually sold as an addition to your standard cubby house, however, there are some cubby packages that include elevation kits.  Make sure you check this with your cubby supplier up front!  There are generally a choice of different heights: 600mm, 800mm, 1200mm or 1500mm. Generally, the elevation kit should include stairs, sub frame and elevating posts. Side balustrades should be automatically included if no accessories, for example slide or scramble nets, are purchased with the kit, but be sure to check this out first with the supplier, "never assume".
 

Staining or Painting
A cubby house or fort can usually be supplied stained, painted or left in it's natural state.  The option is usually available for you to paint your cubby house to match your own house or backyard. The staining option is highly recommended as it helps seal the timber against the harsh Australian climate and prevents the cubbies and fortresses from turning grey over time.  If you paint your cubby, be prepared to re-paint again in a few years time. It is highly recommended that you do not leave your cubby unstained or unpainted and that you re-stain or paint your timber products every 3 - 5 years at a minimum.

Optional Extras 
Always check whether the photo truthfully represents the product that you are purchasing.  If you like the skylight or flowerbox, then ask if it is included.  Don't assume that they will be.   You can turn any cubby house into a real miniature house with some of these typical accessories you might find for a cubby or play fort are:

 

Questions to ask your Cubby Supplier

 

Care & Maintenance
 

All timber should be protected against insect attack and fungal decay using child safe products. However, it is recommended you carry out inspections and maintenance on your cubby house and play equipment at least every 6 months to ensure your children’s safety and to protect your investment.

A well looked after cubby will return close to your initial investment on the secondhand market!  That's a pretty good investment, so why not look after it.

We would also recommend you build your cubby house or fort either on an elevation kit, slightly raised platform or on a concrete slab.  If you are elevating your cubby to 1500mm on sloping ground, we recommend digging the elevation posts into the ground. On flat ground, the higher elevation can be supported by the extra bracing of a sandpit. We do not recommend sandpits on sloping ground, as they can leave gaps around the bottom of them.

If you are based in Queensland it is worthwhile asking if your cubby supplier or installer has a current safe to work with children Blue Card.  This way you can be assured your children are in a safe environment during the delivery or installation of your cubby.