May 25, 2022

Rediscovered timber with a sustainable story to tell

The new Murchison range of handcrafted Tasmanian timber handles, from the Hydrowood Collection, has an incredibly unique story behind it. Architects and designers will be hard pressed to find another range of architectural hardware with such an interesting history, making these handles not only perfect for a range of kitchen and interior projects, but also a wonderful talking point. 

The reclaimed timber used to create the handles is is no ordinary timber. Recycled timber often conjures up thoughts of pieces that are full of rusty bolts and nails, or found covered in leaf litter after years on a forest floor. Also, most species harvested are in short supply and almost never found as intact logs. This timber, however, couldn’t be more different. Although the Murchison range is crafted from real, rediscovered timber, it’s been harvested from a lost forest in a way that many wouldn’t believe.

The timber is reclaimed from the Pieman River, flooded to generate hydroelectricity in 1986. As a result, rare timber species were lost and forgotten. Years later, when David Wise of Hydrowood first flew his Cessna plane over the beautiful Lake Pieman, part of Tasmania’s untamed west coast, he never would have guessed the treasure hidden below the surface of the frigid water – the largest quantity of environmentally friendly specialty Tasmanian timber found in years, submerged for more than a quarter of a century.

Accessing this ancient forest, however, was no mean feat – it required one the world’s first underwater forestry operations, with a custom-built barge fitted with a waterproof harvester designed to go down into the depths of the water. After three years, and a lot of hard work, the ambitious Hydrowood team discovered some of Tasmania’s rarest and most sought-after timbers such as Huon Pine, Sassafras, Tasmanian Myrtle, Western Beech, Celery Top Pine, Eucalyptus and Tasmanian Blackwood hidden 27 metres deep.

This is real solid timber – untouched and intact – that craftsmen and master builders dream about. It’s timber with a sustainable story to tell, a character like no other and in quantities thought never to be seen again.

This beautiful handle range is available from Castella in two finishes – Natural Oak and Charred Oak and 5 lengths 150mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm & 600mm – offering specifiers maximum flexibility for their interior design projects.

The stunning curved edge and detailed underside of the handles creates a gorgeous tactile sensation when gripped while the design allows the handle to sit easily within the hand. The Natural Oak finish is perfect for a range of traditional, classic and modern kitchens while the Charred Oak finish lends itself perfectly to a more eclectic finish such as industrial or contemporary. Speak to the specialists in architectural hardware at Castella about adding a striking piece of rediscovered, sustainable Tasmanian timber to your cabinetry.