Luke and Holly Keddie are passionate about island timber.
Not any island timber, mind you.
It is island timber that has been removed from island blocks and land for various reasons.
The island couple have established GBC Timbers which is about turning those logs into recycled timber, suitable for the island building industry.
“We are making use of timber that would otherwise be chipped, burnt or buried,” says Luke Keddie.
The couple started out on Russell Island and recently moved to Macleay Island.
Their specialist saw system is portable and easily transportable.
“We have already stockpiled a good supply of logs on Russell Island, and now we are doing the same here on Macleay Island, where we are soon to start work on a home of our own.”
The couple have purchased two blocks together in Waterside Drive..
With the help of local contractor John Bonet of JSB earthmoving and contracting, they have accumulated a considerable stockpile of island timbers.
The goal is to build their new home on Macleay almost totally from recycled island timbers that have cut themselves!
On Russell Island the main timbers are Blackbutt (90%), Iron Gum, White Cypress and small amounts of Swamp Mahogany.
On Macleay the timbers are more varied with Ironbark, Bloodwood, Blue Gum and Tallowood available.
In building their house, they will use many of these timbers, producing the bearers and joists, floor boards, ceiling boards and timbers for cabinetry, bench tops, the internal frame work, feature doorways and exposed beams - not a bad effort!
Up until recently the couple have been producing timbers for local sale for a multitude of purposes.
“In this process of using these large pieces of timber, nothing goes to waste.
“The large pieces are cut to various sizes and purposes to suit the type of timber, length etc. either large posts, framing timber, floor and ceiling boards.
“Small pieces can be used to fabricate pickets, tomato stakes, cabinet making, kitchen and coffee table slabs, fencing rails and posts and supplying wood turners for their craft work,” Luke added.
The Keddies reckon it will take about three years to cut and build their ‘dream’ timber home.
After that is completed, they hope to establish a full time business supplying timber to the island building industry for many of the purposes already mentioned.
