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Work goes with the grain

Habitat meets three Perth designer-makers who are committed to continuing the tradition of fine furniture.


Maeker Studio

The spark of Spencer Parks’ career was first lit at high school.

Woodwork not only got him out of less interesting classes, he loved making things, too.

After completing a cabinetmaking apprenticeship in Broome, Mr Parks found himself working for a large cabinet-making firm in Perth but realised he was missing what he got into the industry for — to make beautiful things from wood.

“Strangely enough, the next day I got a call from David Eastwood at Raw Edge Furniture wondering if I was interested in applying for a position he had at his amazing workshop,” Mr Parks said.

“Before working for Dave I had never worked with recycled timbers before and now it is deeply ingrained in me to use them as much as possible.”

He slowly started acquiring his own equipment and making pieces in his back shed but it wasn’t until a visit to the old Myer building in Fremantle, now home to the Many 6160 creative hub, that Mr Parks thought making his own designs could become a full-time gig.

His wife Marie-Clare shares his passion for beautiful, bespoke modern era-designs and the pair run their almost two-year-old business, Maeker Studio, together.

“In terms of the design, there are so many fine furniture makers out there and some incredibly well-made furniture being produced — you just need to look for it.”

Mr Parks pointed out the Handkrafted website as a great tool for connecting local makers with buyers.

“It’s not only great for us but the buyer, too, as I know it can be a frustrating process trying to find the right maker,” he said.

“There seems to have been a real pinch in the market at the moment, people aren’t too keen on springing $4500 on a dining table, no matter how beautiful and rare it is.

“Even still, if you find your niche within the marketplace I think things should be pretty sweet for business owners.”

Mr Parks said he’d been working on more orders for residential fit-outs and cabinet work of late. “Our clientele really appreciate great design, great balance and well considered spaces, which is what we aim for with every job that goes out the door,” he said.

Maeker Studio, Many 6160, Kings Square, Fremantle, 0403 946 171.

Torrance & McKenna’s Dina and Yogesh Shah.


Torrance and McKenna

Friends Andy Torrance and Allen McKenna had only just started their furniture-making business in 1939 when World War II put the brakes on their plans.

“The firm didn’t operate between 1942 and 1945 as both Andy and Allen served for the armed forces,” Torrance and McKenna’s managing director Yogesh Shah said.

When the men, thankfully, returned from war, they picked up where they left off and the East Perth business ran under their guidance until 1975 as a wholesaler supplying furniture stores with custom-built lounge suites.

“The company was developing a reputation as Perth’s finest quality lounge manufacturers, specialising in well designed, spring-based furniture made to last a lifetime,” Mr Shah said.

Torrance and McKenna, newly purchased by the company’s sales rep Gerry Edwards and his wife Kath, was flourishing but in 1979, with Perth growing rapidly, a number of new manufacturers started and cheaper furniture imports were increasing.

“As the number of retail outlets grew, many of them were turning to these manufacturers for cheaper copies,” Mr Shah said.

To compete, the couple decided to sell their products direct to the public and began offering a re-upholstery service. In 2002, Mr Shah and his wife Dina purchased Torrance and McKenna from the Edwards family.

Now operating in bigger Osborne Park premises, the long history of the sofa manufacturing and upholstery business is in good hands — Mr Shah has a degree in furniture design and technology from the London College of Furniture, while Mrs Shah has a diploma in interior design.

“Our re-upholstery service continues to be second to none and we know there are still people willing to invest in well-made custom furniture,” Mr Shah said.

Torrance and McKenna, Osborne Park, 9443 9500, tmk.net.au.

Clint Clarke, of Port Jarrah Furniture.


Port Jarrah Furniture

Established 13 years ago by Clint Clarke, Port Jarrah Furniture has a gallery in Fremantle and a workshop in Beaconsfield.

And like Maeker Studio’s Spencer Parks, it all began in high school.

“I went to school near Fremantle and did well in woodwork, which helped me realise that this I what I wanted to do for work,” Mr Clarke said.

“After school I completed my apprenticeship at Fremantle Furniture Factory.

“I specialise in all solid furniture and do a lot of dining tables which is generally the main piece in anyone’s house,” Mr Clarke said.

“But I also work on custom kitchen design, restaurant and bar fit-outs and even super- yachts.”

It was a chance encounter with a US tourist who ventured into Port Jarrah’s gallery last year that led to Mr Clarke — who now also employs two apprentices — working on custom pieces for a Las Vegas home, for which the client flew him over for the final installation.

“I take pride in my work and the finished product and it was pretty cool to have the opportunity to be able to see the job through to completion in Vegas,” he said.

Port Jarrah, which specialises in recycled marri and jarrah, also has another order headed for Texas and has sent work to Norway, Germany, Singapore, Japan and South Africa.

“There’s definitely a market for custom-made furniture and unique pieces,” Mr Clarke said.

Port Jarrah Furniture, Fremantle, 9443 9500, portjarrah.com.au.