Our Vision
To be Australia's most trusted specification hardwood supplier—recognized for technical expertise, sustainable sourcing, and unwavering commitment to delivering timber that performs exactly as specified for decades
Our Mission
Our Values
"We are guided by integrity in sourcing, transparency in provenance, expertise in specification, and accountability in delivery. We prioritise Australian timber and sustainable forestry practices — and where we source internationally, we apply the same rigorous standards. We believe timber, responsibly farmed and managed, is the most environmentally responsible building material available. We give honest advice over sales pressure, and we build long-term partnerships with professionals who cannot afford to get the timber wrong."
Our Strategy
"We compete on knowledge and reliability. Through our relationships with mills across Australia and internationally, we source specification-grade hardwoods for outdoor and high-exposure applications that commodity suppliers simply can't provide. By investing in deep technical expertise and responsible sourcing practices, we deliver the right timber, specified for your conditions, backed by complete traceability, and built to perform for the life of your structure."
Our Strength
"Our strength is the complete picture; technical expertise spanning Australian Standards, durability classifications, treatment requirements, and compliance documentation, combined with exclusive mill relationships and 100 years of combined knowledge from responsible forest management to final outdoor and high-exposure application. We consult first, supply second, and stand behind every recommendation we make."
What makes Durable Hardwoods a leading provider of Hardwood Timber Products?
We are not timber retailers — we are specification consultants who specialise in hardwoods for outdoor and high-exposure applications. Our expertise spans durability classes, hazard level treatments, structural grading, BAL ratings, and Australian Standards compliance. Combined with exclusive mill relationships and single-mill sourcing capabilities, we solve timber challenges that others can't — from rare species and complex grades through to large-scale government and infrastructure compliance requirements.
Why choose Durable Hardwoods?
When specification matters more than convenience, and value is measured in lifelong performance — choose Durable Hardwoods:
- Expert consultation — Speak directly to timber specialists, not sales teams — we consult first, supply second
- Outdoor & high-exposure specialisation — Hardwoods specified for coastal, inground, structural, and high traffic applications
- Specification-grade sourcing — Exclusive access to 40+ mills across Australia and internationally
- Single-mill consistency — Same grade, grain, and cut guaranteed across your entire order
- Complete traceability — Full provenance documentation from responsible forest management to final application
Compliance assured — Meeting government, council, and Australian Standards requirements
Sustainable sourcing — Prioritising Australian timber from responsibly managed forests, with the same rigorous standards applied to international sources
100 years combined expertise — Deep technical knowledge across durability classifications, treatment requirements, and structural grading
Quality inspection — See your timber before final payment
Interstate delivery — Serving SA, VIC, QLD and NSW
Operational Excellence
Our striving for operational excellence stems from a passion for precision and a commitment to accountability.
We believe every project deserves timber that will still be performing decades from now — which means getting the specification right from day one, particularly in the outdoor and high-exposure environments we specialise in.
This drives our investment in technical knowledge, mill relationships, and complete traceability documentation that gives clients full confidence in every order.
We're passionate about proving that specification timber doesn't require compromise — and that expert, sustainability-backed service can coexist with genuine value.
Our strength isn't in selling what we stock — it's in sourcing exactly what you need.
Our Team
Matthew Liemareff
Managing Director - Commercial
Matthew brings over 15 years of specialized timber industry expertise to Durable Hardwoods, with deep knowledge of Australian and international timber markets. His extensive experience spans operational management, logistics coordination, and sales leadership across prominent industry players including Liemex and Baltic Pine & European Timber. With a degree in International Studies from the University of South Australia, Matthew combines global market insight with practical industry knowledge across every aspect of the timber supply chain—from mill relationships and logistics to customer consultation. His hands-on expertise and international perspective position Durable Hardwoods at the forefront of Australia's premium hardwood supply sector, ensuring clients receive superior products, expert specification advice, and reliable delivery.
Andrew Walshe-Cutter
Managing Director - Operations
Andrew brings over 20 years of strategic leadership and operational excellence to Durable Hardwoods, having successfully managed operational transformation and complex programs across Europe, the US, and Australia for leading financial institutions, commercial businesses, and government organizations. With a background in Accounting and an Oxford MSc in Major Programme Management, Andrew applies proven expertise in project management, supply chain optimization, and strategic planning to deliver exceptional outcomes for hardwood timber clients across Australia. His experience directing large-scale initiatives and building high-performance operational frameworks ensures Durable Hardwoods maintains the reliability, efficiency, and accountability that professional projects demand.
Rod Taverner (Founder)
Senior Timber and Design Specialist
Rod established Durable Hardwoods in the late 1990s with a vision to supply quality, ecologically sourced Australian hardwoods. A qualified accountant with government auditing experience across Papua New Guinea and Australia, Rod developed his passion for premium timber during his time in PNG. His expertise spans comprehensive technical knowledge of timber applications, grading standards, and both traditional and contemporary design techniques. Rod focuses on understanding each client's specific requirements and continues to guide the team, setting the standard for treating suppliers and clients with equal respect while maintaining Durable Hardwoods' reputation for quality and exceptional service.
Renee Goncharov
Timber Design and Architecture Consultant
Renee brings specialized architectural design expertise and technical precision to Durable Hardwoods, focusing on timber specification and integration for residential and commercial projects across Australia. A Bachelor of Architectural Design graduate from the University of Adelaide, she bridges architectural creativity with material reality through advanced proficiency in Rhino 7, AutoCAD, and Revit. Renee works closely with architects throughout the design process, analyzing complex drawings and recommending optimal hardwood solutions that meet both aesthetic vision and Australian Building Code requirements. Her commitment to sustainable building practices and understanding of modular construction positions her at the forefront of innovative timber applications in contemporary architecture.
Eva Walshe
Sales and Marketing Manager
Eva brings 18 years of commercial experience building client relationships and driving business growth across global markets. Her background in stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and brand development—including extensive promotional work across Sweden for Pernod Ricard and relationship management for 250+ business banking clients at Barclays—positions her perfectly to expand Durable Hardwoods' presence across SA, VIC, and NSW. Eva excels at understanding client needs, developing targeted marketing strategies, and building lasting partnerships. Her proven ability to manage complex initiatives, coordinate multi-channel communications, and deliver results under pressure ensures our sales and marketing efforts align with our commitment to expert service and sustainable growth.
Part of the Liemex Group
Durable Hardwoods is proud to be part of the Liemex Group, a family of timber specialists with over 40 years of experience delivering premium timber products across Australia.
This relationship gives us access to an even broader range of timber solutions while maintaining the personal service and specification expertise that sets us apart.
Through the Liemex Group network, we can offer comprehensive timber solutions spanning flooring, decking, cladding, lining, benchtops, custom fixtures, doors, Baltic Pine, and European timber—all backed by the same commitment to quality and customer service.
Liemex Group Expertise Includes:
Baltic Pine and European timber
- Premium flooring and decking
- Timber cladding and lining solutions
- Custom timber fixtures and benchtops
- Specialist door and flooring products
- Specification-grade Australian Timbers
Whether your project requires our core Australian Timber specialization, our Internationally sourced Timbers from around the world or complementary timber products from across the Liemex Group portfolio, we provide tailored solutions backed by decades of combined expertise.
