Design competition takes native timber from local farms to furniture

Imagine decorating your house with furniture grown and harvested from a farm down the road and crafted by a local woodworker.  

It’s not just a dream; local farmers are starting to produce native timbers for local woodworkers to put their creative skills to the test and enter the inaugural Sustainable Native Timber Showcase and Design Competition.

For that reason the focus for the Design Competition is the “best use of sustainable farm grown native timbers”. The competition is now open to woodworkers, architects, boat builders, interior designers and cabinet makers in the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland region.

Design Competition

By entering you go into the draw to win a share in $4,000 in cash and prizes. The two categories for entry are:

1.    Product Design – best use of Silver Quandong, Silky Oak and/or Queensland Maple in a made product eg. doors, furniture, panels, interior decoration, musical instruments, surfboards

2.    Concept Design – best use of Silver Quandong, Silky Oak and/or Queensland Maple in a drawing or model

Let your imagination run wild, whether you want to make a chair, shape a surfboard or design jewellery, the sky is the limit. 

“We are looking for local woodworkers who appreciate the quality of fine sub-tropical timber and the environmental and social benefits of growing and harvesting locally. Add simple design criteria with creative and talented local makers and we should have a fantastic array of pieces to choose from,” said Tony Kenway, Design Competition Judge and renowned local fine furniture maker.

Showcase Event

The Design Competition will culminate in a Showcase Event at Federal Hall on Sunday 15 April. Attendees will be able to view the entries, meet the designers and learn more about local sustainable native timbers.

Quality Timber Traders Project Manager and local tree farmer Dr Joe Harvey-Jones looks forward to the competition generating new connections between growers and makers. “It will stimulate ideas and demonstrate new ways in which we can sustain the loop of seed to tree to product. For woodworkers it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with exquisite local timber to craft something beautiful and unique,” he said.

With a share of over $4,000 in cash and prizes, interested entrants are encouraged to register for more information.

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From Farm to Furniture: Sustainable Native Timber Showcase and Design Competition is presented by Quality Timber Traders who are a cooperative of tree farmers from Northern NSW and SE Queensland with support from the Farming Together Project and Southern Cross University. 

Photo caption: Local Byron master craftsmen Tony Kenway and Alby Johnston
Credit: James Wills

Kate Love
Events Manager
Quality Timber Traders
0439 602 480
(02) 6688 4257
e: info@qualitytimbertraders.com

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The Farm Co-operative and Collaboration Program (known as Farming Together) is a two-year, $13.8m initiative from the Australian Government designed to help agricultural groups value-add, secure premium pricing, scale-up production, attract capital investment, earn new markets or secure lower input costs.

The Farm Co-operative and Collaboration Program is being delivered by Southern Cross University on behalf of the Australian Government. It comprises a highly experienced senior team drawn from a wide range of commodity groups from across Australia and is backed by an industry advisory group representing experts from Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and NSW.