By Claire Reilly
Jamie Durie was in Canberra yesterday, attending the opening of Big W’s newest store in Majura Park, to spruik a new book and his range of barbecues and outdoor furnishings.
The Patio by Jamie Durie collection is being sold exclusively in Big W, and includes a range of outdoor furniture, as well as garden lighting, tools and heating products. Aside from smiling for photos and penning his John Hancock on the newly-printed book ‘100 Gardens by Jamie Durie’, the entrepreneur and celebrity gardener was talking up the features of his range.
“It’s all about teaching people how to live outside,” Durie told Current. “Australians should get out and actually live in their outdoor spaces, rather than just looking at them through the kitchen window.”
“It’s taken nine years to get this range right. I go on all the buying trips and I’ve spent hours on the factory floors working on the small details. Now it’s the biggest-selling garden range in Australia, and Big W has been an incredible partner.”
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According to Durie, the range has more than 500 SKUs including a selection of FSC-certified eucalyptus wood furniture that has been endorsed by Greenpeace.
There are five and grills barbecues in the collection (along with a series of accessories) ranging in price from $198 for the E-Grill Electric Table Top BBQ (which has an optional stand available for $80), up to the GT Series Stainless Steel Five-Burner BBQ and the Four-Burner Stainless Steel Chef BBQ with side burner, both available for $498.
Ever the archetypal Australian larrikin, what was Durie’s final word on the range?
“Tough as guts.”
Jamie Durie with one of the Patio by Jamie Durie barbecues.