Westwood Workshop employed Tasmanian Blackwood as part of an exciting recipe for a state-of-the-art kitchen in Brisbane.

"We created a feature wall with laminated Blackwood that was calculated to impress. Tasmanian Blackwood has a richness and quality that is hard to find, and that combined with remarkable design, has created something unique," Westwood owner David Mawhinney says.

The feature wall utilised graduated lengths and thicknesses of Blackwood in 5mm increments, but David says that wasn’t the tricky part.

"Making a feature wall that the eye sees as random, is not easy. As humans, we tend to see and work towards patterns, so making sure there was no discernible pattern to the wall, took some doing. The wall also has functional shelf spaces built-in, so it’s a double-whammy – practical functionality combined with fabulous looking solid timber."

Tasmanian Blackwood was also used to craft the 3.2m long by 1.8m wide eye-catching multi-functional island bench.

"The island bench is made from robust, 46mm Blackwood and is handy to the cooktop and ovens. It completes the cooking and dining hub for the kitchen as there's room for plenty of chairs and bookshelves to house those all-important recipes. The chunky Tasmanian Blackwood complements the feature wall opposite beautifully."

David specialises in high-end construction and design for kitchens, bathrooms, office furniture and outdoor living, and sees Tasmanian Blackwood as a timber that can add design value to a variety of situations.

Westwood Workshop customers benefit from David's nineteen years experience in Australia and Europe and he brings a discerning eye to the task of choosing the right timber for the job. For this stunning kitchen, Westwood undoubtedly chose the best wood.

Lexus of Blackburn's prestigious state-of–the-art dealership in Melbourne now features magnificent Blackwood furniture.

Davis furniture's Bob Daly says Lexus of Blackburn asked for a comprehensive range of furniture that would complement the high-end feel of the new centre and reflect the exacting standards to which Lexus vehicles and support service adhere.

The clean, modern and minimalist design of Lexus of Blackburn presented Davis Furniture with an exciting challenge.

For Bob Daly, superb-quality Tasmanian Blackwood provided the answer.

"Tasmanian Blackwood has the deep, tonal richness that I felt was needed to complement the modern, white décor of the centre."

The overall effect is stunning. The custom furniture including a unique 'suspended' couch and a range of desks and cabinets definitely sets-off the chrome and glass of the showroom and the brilliant Lexus vehicles.

Lexus of Blackburn's Kara Lowe says customer feedback on the fit-out has been 'amazing'.

"Lexus requires a very high standard for its showrooms and the Tasmanian Blackwood furniture has complemented our facility here at Lexus of Blackburn beautifully. Our customers can sit and have a great coffee and a chat with us in a showroom environment that perfectly reflects the Lexus luxury brand."

RACV's superb Healesville Country Club has drawn praise from around the country and its stunning design and use of natural materials has been a key factor.

The designers chose to feature the timber throughout the club to enhance the ambience with its warm, rich tones and create a luxurious feel for its guests.

Located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, particular attention was paid to sourcing attractive, environmentally sustainable timbers to complement the club’s stunning natural surroundings.

The RACV Healesville Country Club is less than an hour and half drive from Melbourne and continues to offer an outstanding range of dining, sporting and accommodation options.

Blackwood is an ideal timber for bespoke design projects. It is available defect-free in all thicknesses and widths plus the matching veneer, which makes it an ideal timber for commercial furniture and joinery fit-outs.

The distinctive grain of Blackwood is often wavy and adds an additional layer of interest and texture to any application high-quality furniture to flooring or other modern large-scale applications.

In addition to the supply of solid sections, the availability of high quality veneers has increased the timber’s versatility for use in joinery, cabinet-making and feature paneling.

Blackwood grows throughout Tasmania’s native forests from sea level to about one thousand metres, but it is in the state’s temperate north-west that it thrives.

Blackwood is a member of the wattle family and a hardwood. It occurs throughout Tasmania’s native forests from sea level to 1000m in elevation but it thrives in swamp and riverine areas. It is also a common understorey component of wet eucalypt forest.

The swamps of north-west Tasmania, where there are almost pure stands, have been a primary source of high quality Blackwood for more than a century. This resource has been the cornerstone of Tasmania’s fine furniture industry over that time.

Tasmanian Blackwood is sourced from the sustainably managed and PEFC certified temperate forests of the north-west region of the state. Sustainability is also achieved through compliance with the provisions of the Forest Practices Code and the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement.

About 8000ha of swamp forest is dedicated to Blackwood silviculture on a sustained yield basis. Rotations are generally of the order of 70 years for native forest.

In the past, demand has sometimes exceeded supply, but thanks to the work of progressive manufacturers who have highlighted the character of Blackwood in their work, even knotty and naturally featured sections of logs are now used.

As a result of sensible, sustainable management, Australia’s talented designers and manufacturers will always have access to a small but reliable supply.

Density kg/m3 Dry: 665 Specific Gravity: 0.66 Modulus of Rupture Mpa Dry: 99 Modulus of Elasticity Gpa Dry: 13 Radial Shrinkage: 1.5% Tangential Shrinkage: 4% Hardness (Janka) (kN): 6 Finish: Good Stability: Excellent

Durability: Non Durable Susceptible to Lictus Borer: Yes Machining: Good Split Resistance Nailing: Good Split Resistance Screwing: Good Gluing: Good Growing Region: TAS Availability: Widely

In Adelaide’s magnificent St Francis Xavier Cathedral, a rare Canadian Casavant Frères pipe organ was sourced to complete a nine-year transformation of the holy structure.

Originally built in 1927 and installed for 70 years in a Montreal church, the 3500 pipes weighing 16 tonnes were painstakingly dismantled, transported and re-built.

Renowned South Australian master craftsman Lex Stobie was commissioned to undertake the fit-out of the façade, case work and other associated cabinetry around the instrument using the ideal timber: Tasmanian Blackwood.

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(Circular Head Chronicle, 27/06/2016)