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Who We Are

Matthew Liemareff

Managing Director

Matthew brings over 15 years of specialized timber industry expertise to Durable Hardwoods, with deep and comprehensive knowledge of both Australian and international timber and lumber 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 business from the University of South Australia, Matthew combines global market insight with practical industry knowledge to drive strategic growth and market positioning. His hands-on experience across every aspect of the timber supply chain—from operations and logistics to customer relationships—ensures Durable Hardwoods delivers superior products and service to the Australian hardwood market.

Matthew’s industry expertise and international perspective position Durable Hardwoods at the forefront of Australia’s premium hardwood timber supply sector.

Andrew Walshe-Cutter

General Manager

Andrew brings over 20 years of strategic leadership and operational excellence to Durable Hardwoods, having successfully managed operational uplift and led large scale, complex projects in Europe, the US and Australia for leading financial services institutions, commercial businesses and government organizations.

With an Oxford MSc in Major Programme Management and extensive experience directing large scale and complex programs, Andrew applies proven expertise in project management to deliver exceptional outcomes for our hardwood timber clients across Australia.

This depth and breadth of operational experience ensures Durable Hardwoods continues to set the standard for quality, reliability, and customer service in the Australian hardwood market.

Part of the Liemex Group

Durable Hardwoods is part of the Liemex Group, a family of timber specialists including Timber Doors and Flooring experts, Baltic Pine specialists, and European Timber importers.

This connection gives us access to an even broader range of timber solutions and technical expertise while maintaining our personal service approach.

Liemex Group Services

– Timber Doors and Flooring – Specialist door and flooring solutions
– Baltic Pine – Premium Northern European softwood products
– European Timber – Imported European specialist species
– Durable Hardwoods – Australian Sourced Cedar Pine, Merbau, and Australian & international hardwood specialists

This group structure allows us to offer solutions beyond our core Australian Sourced Cedar Pine and Merbau expertise when your project demands it, while maintaining the personal service and technical knowledge that sets us apart.

Meet the Team

Peter Liemareff

Chairman of the Board

Matthew Liemareff

Managing Director

Andrew Walshe-Cutter

General Manager

Rod Taverner (Founder)

Senior Timber & Design Advisor

Rod brings a unique combination of professional expertise and genuine passion for timber to Durable Hardwoods, having established the business in the late 1990s with a vision to supply quality, ecologically sourced hardwoods to the Australian market.

With a background as a qualified accountant and extensive experience in government auditing across Papua New Guinea and Australia, Rod developed a deep appreciation for premium timber resources during his time in PNG, which he later transposed to Australian hardwoods. This connection inspired him to create a business that would deliver exceptional quality Australian products while contributing positively to the communities he worked with.

Rod’s expertise encompasses comprehensive technical knowledge of timber applications, grading standards, and both traditional and contemporary design techniques. His dedication to continuous learning—including studying historical timber engineering methods—enables him to offer clients innovative solutions drawing on centuries of proven timber craftsmanship.

As Senior Timber & Design Advisor, Rod focuses on understanding each client’s specific requirements and ensuring they receive exactly the right product for their purpose. He continues to guide and support the next generation of the Durable Hardwoods team, setting the standard on treating suppliers and clients with equal respect and consideration. This, combined with his extensive industry knowledge, ensures Durable Hardwoods maintains its reputation for quality products and exceptional service in the Australian hardwood market.

Renee Goncharov

Timber Design & Architecture Consultant

Renee brings specialized architectural design expertise and technical precision to Durable Hardwoods, with a strong focus on timber specification and integration for residential and commercial projects across Australia. A recent Bachelor of Architectural Design graduate from the University of Adelaide, Renee combines advanced digital design capabilities with practical manufacturing insight. Her unique ability to bridge architectural creativity with material reality enables her to provide exceptional technical consultation to architectural firms and design professionals. With advanced proficiency in Rhino 7, AutoCAD, and Revit, Renee excels at analyzing complex architectural drawings and recommending optimal hardwood solutions that meet both aesthetic vision and Australian Building Code requirements. She works closely with architects throughout the design process, providing technical guidance on material specification and ensuring seamless integration of premium hardwoods into architectural projects. Her commitment to sustainable building practices and deep understanding of modular construction principles positions her at the forefront of innovative timber applications in contemporary architecture.

Alex Molchanoff

Head of Technology