After founding The Coles School of Woodcraft in Melbourne over 15 years ago, Richard Coles’ passion for working with Australian timbers led him on a search for the best possible veneers. A search that took him to the ancient forests of Tasmania’s northern coastline.

A chance meeting with native Tasmanian Chris Searle (who, for 25 years has been recovering blackwood stumps on Tasmania’s north coast for the export guitar market) was the catalyst for the birth of Rivergum Timbers.

Richards’ vision: a specialist supplier to a very special market.

Established in 2001, Rivergum Timbers works closely with on-the-spot local experts like Chris who quite literally know the Tasmanian forests like the back of their hand. They’ve grown up in forest country, they draw their living from the forest floor and they respect the forest as only those who co-depend with the forest can. 

To appreciate the truly uncommon value of Rivergum’s product range – it’s important to understand that our veneers are hand-picked, piece by timeless piece. With contracts to operate in State owned and private forests on Tasmania’s north coast, Chris and his family spend their days hunting for the most exceptional stump wood and burls left behind after the logging process.

Set in the foothills of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Rivergum Timbers is open to visitors. Feel free to come and view our current stock at any time – or we can arrange to call you when your specified veneer becomes available. We usually know up to 3 weeks in advance of delivery what veneers we have coming through, so just let us know what you need for that special project and we’ll find it for you.