Circular Timber: From Salvage to Showcase

What happens to a house when it’s no longer a home?

'Circular Timber: From Salvage to Showcase' reveals how timber from houses in the NSW Reconstruction Authority Resilient Homes program can be reclaimed, reimagined and given new purpose.

This exhibition showcases objects crafted by local makers using salvaged wood from two North Lismore buyback properties, celebrating the cultural and material value of reclaimed timber. Through historical context, real-world examples, and practical insights, we demonstrate how we can move beyond demolition toward sustainable reuse here in the Northern Rivers.

Join us in reimagining the future of waste in the Northern Rivers.

Timber isn’t just a building material in the Northern Rivers — it’s a part of the region’s identity.

Our homes, many built from locally harvested rainforest hardwoods, represent generations of craftsmanship and, for some, a strong connection to place. As houses are relocated from high-risk flood plains, or demolished, the way we handle these materials reflects our values as a community.

This exhibition demonstrates what’s possible when we think creatively about reuse. Local makers have transformed salvaged timbers into new pieces that honour their origin while finding new life. It’s a small-scale example of what could be achieved with proper infrastructure and support — a starting point rather than a final solution.

The pilot project behind the exhibition

In August 2023, we convened a think tank to explore Waste and the Circular Economy in the context of disaster recovery and reconstruction.

Together a group of local and national experts — from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Southern Cross University, NSW Public Works, Business NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority — examined how we might best approach waste management and the development of circular economy strategies for the massive reconstruction efforts ahead.

Salvaging our heritage

The Circular Timber pilot project emerged from this initiative, addressing community concerns about old growth hardwood timbers in houses facing demolition under the Resilient Homes Program. These buildings, containing generations of local stories and irreplaceable hardwoods, deserved better than landfill.

Recovery in action

Working with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and their demolition contractor TCDE, we piloted selective deconstruction at 125 and 127 Tweed Street, North Lismore. Our target , of course, was the hardwood timber that was used for the structure, framing, flooring, walls, ceilings and exterior siding. This is the wood that was made available to a group of makers from across our region and whose objects we now present in this space.

Beyond aesthetics

This pilot project is not just about making beautiful things out of beautiful and valuable old timber. We have worked through the steps of deconstruction, material storage, product design and manufacturing, to develop a set of recommendations which we will formally present to the NSW State Government. As well as a guide to timber reuse that can be applied by the Resilient Homes Program in the Northern Rivers, and other regions where housing buybacks are an appropriate strategy.

The scale ahead

The unprecedented scale of government buybacks through the Resilient Homes Program has created a unique challenge for our region. Most of these houses in the floodplain have been made from irreplaceable old growth hardwoods harvested locally from the Big Scrub forests. At the time of opening this exhibition, about 20 houses have been demolished. As the complex program continues potentially hundreds more may follow.

How will this valuable resource be treated?