What is Merbau?

The reliance by so many architects and designers on imported species such as Merbau in their projects is becoming quite alarming. It seems that every time one opens a home design book it is full of Merbau decking, posts and joinery timber.

What is wrong with Australian hardwoods?

Maybe it all comes back to education and it is not only the architects fault. This problem starts within the industry itself. Timber wholesalers and merchants just aren't making the effort to sourced decent materials and certainly aren't making the effort to teach their sales staff the benefits and beauty of Australian hardwoods.

How about next time you see another massive landslide in the Philippines or Indonesia, you ask yourself Was this caused by illegal logging? and next time you pick up a home design book in a newsagent that is full of boring exotic timbers put it back and look for something that at least has enough imagination to show piece the multitude of terrific Australian species.