A clear out sale at Wauchope Wood and Turning Supplies has been attracting everyone from leading national timber merchants to small-scale wood hobbyists. Source: Wauchope Gazette
With the land now sold, the business closure ends an important chapter in Wauchope’s timber history.
Back in 1948, owner David Haye’s parents William “Billo” and Lola Hayes started Hastings Sand and Gravel at the site now known as Rocks Ferry Reserve.
Together they raised 10 children, many continue to live in the local area.
After a period of ill health Billo’s second eldest son, David, who was only 22 at the time, was asked to take over the business.
The younger Mr Hayes saw a huge opportunity to expand the business and with his foresight, and the support of his new wife Margaret, grew it into a major regional player that employed 20 local people.
As a way to relax Mr Hayes took up an interest restoring vintage cars in 1976.
When he had trouble sourcing coachwood for the timber frame of a 1929 Morris Isis, he realised the need for a local supplier of hard-to-find timbers.
Then known as Timbertown Softwoods, timber was sold out of a small shed at the end of Rocks Ferry Road near the gravel quarry.
The business grew quickly and David and Margaret were soon approached to supply woodworking machinery and tools.
As demand increased, the site was expanded to include the large shed that still stands at 1 Rocks Ferry Road; a show room was added and the name of the business was changed to Wauchope Wood and Turning Supplies.
Their reputation grew well beyond the Hastings and visitors from all over Australia and the world would make the long trip over to the Hastings River to source rare and unique timbers.
Over 80 species of timber could be found at the site including local timbers such as red cedar, rosewood, coachwood, camphor laurel and whitebeech, and exotic imported timbers such as Brazillian mahogony, macassar ebony, Tasmanian huon pine and New Zealand kauri.
After decades of hard work and long hours, the Hayes’ decided to scale back and close the doors to the public in 2002. Since that time only a select few have been able to access this unique timber collection by appointment.
For a limited time, the public can now access the impressive showroom display and take advantage of the closing down sale.
