Some timbers live many lives. This one began in Glebe, Sydney, more than 100 years ago. A simple joist, hidden away in the bones of a terrace house, carrying the weight of everyday life for generations. Families grew up beneath it, laughter and arguments echoed around it, and the timber stood steady - season after season, decade after decade.
When that house was renovated, the joist could easily have been discarded, lost to landfill. Instead, it was rescued. And now, it begins its next chapter - not as part of a house, but as something far smaller, far more unexpected, and just as meaningful.
A New Purpose
We’ve transformed this century-old timber into crumpet holders for Merna’s Crumpets, a niche Sydney company making what many believe are the best sourdough crumpets in Australia. These holders are headed to hotels across the country, where guests will enjoy Merna’s creations served from timber that has already lived one remarkable life.
It’s a story of heritage and reinvention: of timber that once held up a home, now holding something as simple - and as beautiful - as a crumpet.
Why This Matters
At The Wattle Road, we believe reclaimed timber carries more than character; it carries history. Every dent, mark, and grain tells the story of where it has been. To take timber from a Glebe terrace and shape it into a vessel that will sit on the tables of some of Australia’s finest hotels is to prove that craftsmanship and storytelling can travel far beyond the workshop.
These crumpet holders aren’t just functional. They are conversation pieces. Quietly, they remind us that sustainability and beauty are not separate ideas - they belong together.
Craftsmanship Represented Nationally
It’s a proud moment for us. To know that our fine craftsmanship is represented in major hotels across Australia is one thing. But to know that each piece carries with it the story of a century-old terrace house in Glebe - that’s something else entirely.
From the hidden structure of a home to the breakfast table of today, this timber has been reborn. It will serve food. It will serve history. And it will serve as a reminder that nothing truly good should ever be wasted.
