Our story — Meet Calum
I spent the better part of 15 years as a mechanical engineer, mostly working on projects in Perth and northern Sydney. A lot of my job came down to problem-solving — designing systems to save time or fix inefficiencies. At home, though, I kept running into a different kind of frustration: everyday items that weren’t built to last. Cheap, flimsy materials. Wobbly joints that couldn’t be tightened. Things that looked nice on the shelf but didn’t hold up to real use.
For years, I’d been tinkering in the shed on weekends, building furniture or tweaking designs for things we needed around the house. I’d make my own jigs, measure tolerances to the millimetre, and try to get things solid enough to outlive me. By 2019, I’d tweaked one design for a bench 14 times before I was happy with it. My wife joked that I’d made it harder to break than the house’s foundations.
The turning point came when we moved to Bowral in early 2020. I’d built a coffee table out of salvaged timber from a demolition site in Mittagong, and a mate asked if he could buy one. Then one became three. Then another friend asked for a lamp. Before long, I was spending more time in the workshop than looking for engineering contracts. That’s when I decided to take the leap and launch Maple Thatch.
These days, my workshop is where I’d rather be most mornings. I work with materials that tell their own story — reclaimed wood from local demolitions, old brass fittings I clean up myself. Everything’s made in Bowral. It’s not fast, but I’m aiming for things you won’t need to replace in a year or two. That’s what I’d want in my own home.
— Thanks for stopping by — Calum, Calum David Parish Egginton
Journal
The Willow Baskets Start on the Hawkesbury
Our rustic willow baskets start their journey along the Hawkesbury River, where we source the raw material directly.
The willow we use for our baskets comes from a small property on the Hawkesbury River. I met the growers, Julie and Craig, when I was researching Australian-grown willow. Turns out, it’s not that common. They’ve been experimenting with different varieties for over a decade, and their latest batch — Salix alba var. vitellina to get specific — has a long enough stem and the flexibility we need without being too brittle.
I spent a day with them last spring, and honestly, it’s a deeply manual process. They’re doing it all: planting, coppicing, bundling the cuttings. For our baskets, I prefer stems between 1.2 and 1.6 metres in length, so their attention to cutting times is critical. The longer the stem, the fewer breaks during weaving, which also means less wastage.
Transport’s always a bit of a gamble. Willow has to be kept slightly damp so it doesn’t dry out and crack. We’ve rigged up a system using old vineyard sprayers; it’s not perfect but it does the job. The bundles come down to Bowral in their ute — 14 bundles per trip, at about 25 stems per bundle. It's not the most economical setup, but it works for now.
Once the willow arrives, we soak it again in large troughs. This gives us an extra layer of flexibility when weaving. A small detail, but it’s made a massive difference in the durability of the final baskets. The soaking period depends on the season — colder months mean longer soaking, sometimes up to two weeks.
I like knowing that every basket we produce has this connection to the Hawkesbury. There’s something steadying about that. It’s not flashy, but it feels right. And it all starts with Julie and Craig, out there tending their willow patches by hand.
Why the Desk Lamp Took 18 Months
Our brass desk lamp design took 18 months, largely thanks to the search for a dimmer that didn’t ruin the look.
The Vintage Brass Desk Lamp looks simple, but it took a lot of fiddling to get right. The biggest hang-up was the dimmer switch. I wanted something unobtrusive and reliable, but also period-appropriate. Most modern dimmers clash horribly with brass, and none of the vintage-style options met Australian electrical standards.
I spent weeks testing dimmers and electrical assemblies. At one point, I wired 14 different setups in the garage, only to find that half of them overheated. It wasn’t just about function; it was aesthetics too. A big black plastic knob on a brass base? No thanks. Eventually, a supplier in Melbourne suggested an enclosed rotary dimmer sourced from Italy. Not cheap at $18 per unit, but it worked beautifully and met all the regulations.
The brass itself comes from a foundry in South Australia. They provide 60/40 brass rods in 1.5-metre lengths. Each rod yields about six lamp stems, depending on cutting losses. I machine the threading myself, using an old Myford lathe. It takes about 20 minutes per stem, including set-up time. There’s something satisfying about cutting metal — it’s predictable, unlike wood, which can surprise you with grain or knots.
The lamp shades are spun from aluminium and then powder-coated. Why aluminium? Weight. Brass shades looked great but made the lamps top-heavy and prone to tipping. The aluminium gives us the look without the hassle. I did worry about the colour match, but the powder coat has held up surprisingly well against the polished brass.
All in all, this lamp was a lesson in patience. It’s easy to get stuck on a single detail, but if that detail’s wrong, the whole thing feels off. Now that it’s done, I can’t imagine it any other way.
Why Autumn Is the Season for Cotton Throws
Our cotton throws are ideal for the in-between weather of an Australian autumn — neither too heavy nor too light.
The Eco-Friendly Cotton Throw Blankets are always popular around this time of year. Southern Highlands autumns are funny; the mornings can dip below 10°C, but by midday you’re back in a T-shirt. A wool blanket feels like overkill, but a throw like this is just right for those in-between moments.
We use long-staple cotton, which comes mostly from Queensland. Long-staple fibres give the throw a smoother finish and fewer loose threads over time. The exact weight is 360 GSM (grams per square metre). It’s not the heaviest fabric out there, but it has enough heft to feel substantial without being stifling.
The weave matters a lot too. These throws use a herringbone twill, which traps just enough air for insulation while still being breathable. It’s a bit fiddly to produce consistently. I’ve learned to accept a 5% defect rate during production — mostly minor tension issues in the loom — which we catch during inspection.
I like to keep a few of these throws in different spots around the house in autumn. There’s one on the sofa, another draped over the end of the bed. They’re also brilliant for sitting outside in the late afternoon. The sunsets here in Bowral take on a muted, golden quality as the days shorten. It’s hard to describe, but those cool evenings just seem to demand a good throw.
Some people ask why we don’t go heavier with our cotton. The truth is, it’s a balance. Too heavy, and you lose versatility. Too light, and it doesn’t feel comforting. We’ve landed on something that works for most people most of the time — and really, isn’t that what a throw is meant to do?
What Makes Reclaimed Teak Worth the Trouble
Reclaimed teak isn’t always pretty when it arrives, but the stories in the wood make the work worthwhile.
The reclaimed teak wood coffee tables have a way of dividing opinions in the workshop. When the raw planks arrive, they often look rough — nail holes, old paint residues, even the occasional iron stain from where screws have rusted in. It’s not glamorous wood. But once it’s cleaned up, there’s nothing quite like it.
Most of the teak we use comes from old furniture and construction offcuts sourced through a yard in Penrith. They specialise in salvaging hardwoods and sorting them by species. Teak is rare in this line of work. When we get a batch, it’s usually between 20 and 25 planks, measuring around 2.4 metres each. Enough for about 12 tables, give or take.
Processing is slow. Every plank needs to be de-nailed before machining, which takes ages. I’ve busted more planer blades than I’d like to admit on hidden nails. After that, the boards go through a drum sander to even out the surface. Teak dust is no joke — I wear a proper respirator because the oils in the wood can irritate your skin and lungs if you’re not careful.
The beauty of teak is in its density and resistance to moisture, which is why it was used for boat-building. Those same properties make it brilliant for a coffee table. You can spill a drink on it, forget to wipe it up, and it’ll hardly matter. Plus, the reclaimed pieces often carry little details from their past lives — tool marks, old bolt holes. I think those imperfections are what make each table feel alive.
So yes, it’s a pain to work with, and yes, the raw material isn’t pretty. But by the time the table’s done, it tells a story that no freshly-milled timber could match. That’s worth the extra effort.
Customer reviews
Emily G. — Fitzroy, VIC — 2024-05-12 — 5/5
Beautiful and functional
I bought the Ceramic Herb Planter Set and it suits my kitchen perfectly. Delivery was quick, and the planters feel sturdy yet lightweight.
James T. — New Farm, QLD — 2025-01-23 — 5/5
Stunning coffee table
Ordered the Reclaimed Teak Wood Coffee Table and it’s even better in person! It arrived faster than expected and was packed securely.
Olivia H. — Northcote, VIC — 2024-09-14 — 4/5
Great basket for storage
The Rustic Willow Woven Basket is great for holding my magazines. Shipping took a bit longer than expected, but the product is worth it.
Liam W. — Surry Hills, NSW — 2024-02-08 — 5/5
Impressive quality
Bought the Vintage Brass Desk Lamp, and it’s perfect for my home office. Packaging was secure, and it looks just like the photos.
Sophia C. — Darwin, NT — 2025-03-30 — 5/5
Love this throw blanket
The Eco-Friendly Cotton Throw Blanket is soft and lightweight. It’s been perfect for cool evenings and arrived in perfect condition.
Noah K. — Glenelg, SA — 2024-11-19 — 4/5
Herb planters are great
The Ceramic Herb Planter Set is lovely, but one arrived slightly chipped. Customer service was quick to help, and they replaced it.
Mia D. — Paddington, QLD — 2024-06-21 — 5/5
Stylish and functional
I ordered the Rustic Willow Woven Basket, and it’s perfect for my laundry room. It’s sturdy yet lightweight, and it arrived on time.
Ethan L. — Fremantle, WA — 2024-08-05 — 5/5
Exactly what I needed
The Vintage Brass Desk Lamp fits my bedside table beautifully. Delivery was faster than I expected, and the style is timeless.
Shipping
We use Australia Post for standard shipping and StarTrack for express shipping to deliver your orders across Australia. Standard delivery typically takes 3-7 business days depending on your location, while express delivery is faster at 1-3 business days. Both options include tracking so you can monitor your package every step of the way.
Orders over $150 qualify for free standard shipping. For orders under this amount, a shipping fee will be calculated at checkout based on your chosen method. All orders placed before 2pm AEST on weekdays are dispatched the same day, ensuring prompt delivery.
We carefully pack each item to avoid damage during transit. If your order arrives damaged, contact us immediately with photos, and we’ll organise a replacement or refund as per the situation. All pricing includes GST, so there are no hidden fees.