About A1 Timbers
Bukartilla Gallery
Nothing quite matches the warmth, character, contour and colour of natural timbers. But, like many good things, it is often difficult to find. However, at A1 Specialty Timbers we have a wide range of species displaying all that is best in timber. There are subtle ochre colourings of Camphor Laurel and Bush Mango, the classic pinks, yellows and reds of fine grained New Guinea Rosewood or the bold black lines and abstract design of the tropical Walnut. In contrast, many Australian timbers from the central desert regions are very dense, fine grained, iron red to dark brown, with sometimes a highly developed ray structure. Sanded and polished to whatever shape, the timber becomes a delight to touch and to the eye.
With over 140 varieties of choices timbers to select from there is something everyone, whether you are looking for wood to turn or carve, to incorporate in musical instruments, to form a bar/table or deck out a complete kitchen, or special furniture for the of the home. Special featured timber can be purchased by the piece, or by the kilogram for turning or carving. Larger quantities for furniture or features in homes or business premises are purchased by volume.
We source timber from a number of countries, including Papua New Guinea, which is, botanically speaking, one of the most diverse countries in the world, especially rich in beautiful timbers. We have three sources of supply:
Timer salvaged during road construction,
Timber sustainably harvested by small village groups and
plantation grown timber.
The indigenous Australian species we stock are predominantly the low rain hardwoods, often very dense but with beautiful colour and feature.
What we label as ‘cosmopolitan’ are those non indigenous species, now widely grown in Australia.
Our timbers can be used for fine furniture, kitchen benches, bar tops, jewellery boxes, trunks, musical instruments, knife handles and gun stocks, carving blanks, marquetry, in fact, all uses except construction.
Timbers currently in stock are listed alphabetically.
How our timber is harvested
Much of our timber from Papua New Guinea is harvested by the local village people from their ancestral land. They select and only harvest the mature trees, ensuring a continuing sustainability of their forests. Sometimes this provides the only income available to the village.
P.N.G rainforest in the vicinity of Bulolo, Morobe Province
Kanau, a beautiful timber often used for carvings, being harvested at Ataliklikun Bay, Easy New Britain.
Other timber is salvaged from trees felled in clearing of the forest for making food gardens. This needs to be done prior to the felled trees being burnt, the ashes of which enrich the garden soil.
Kanau, a beautiful timber often used for carvings, being harvested at Ataliklikun Bay, Easy New Britain.
Harvesting Rosewood above the Busu River, out from Lae, P.N.G
Harvesting Rosewood above the Busu River, our from Lae P.N.G