Book excerpt: Stone House Construction is a comprehensive study of Australian stone building techniques in a residential context, for people with an interest in building or renovating, including property owners, architects and builders. It has a strong theme of historic stone buildings, as traditional forms of building respond to the need for structural integrity and stability over time against weathering. The book covers aspects of building in locally sourced stone, from quarrying on-site to building arches over openings for upper storey walls, and is a source book of examples and methods to help the reader to carry on a tradition of building in local stone. Stone buildings inspire people because they transfer a natural beauty to a human achievement. The book shows many examples of Australian stonework that have not been given exposure in previous architectural references. It promotes Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) through the continuation of a stonework tradition in Australia.