Mulbury: Crafting Beauty from Recycled Timber in Highett

In an industrial pocket of Highett, just a short drive from Melbourne’s bayside beaches, sits a workshop that turns discarded building timber into objects of lasting beauty. Mulbury has spent more than three decades proving that sustainability and craftsmanship can go hand in hand. What began as a builder’s response to waste on construction sites has grown into Australia’s leading maker of recycled timber picture frames and eco-friendly homeware — all handmade in Melbourne.

 

From Building Sites to Beautiful Frames

Gerard “Gerry” Melder spent the 1970s and 1980s working as a builder. Day after day he watched perfectly good timber and other materials being thrown away. By the early 1990s, growing environmental awareness prompted him to act. In the backyard shed of his Bentleigh East home he began transforming offcuts into picture frames. He tested the early designs at weekend markets around Melbourne and country Victoria, where they proved an instant success.

In 1994 Mulbury was formally born. The name itself carries a personal story: when a friend suggested “mulberry” as a nod to the fruit of one’s labour, the closest available domain was Mulbury. More than thirty years later the business still operates from the same core principle — divert timber from landfill and turn it into something people will treasure for decades.

Gerry remains the heart of the operation, still involved in the workshop at 26 Advantage Road. The team has grown, yet the ethos has stayed consistent: ethical, caring, creative, tenacious and sustainable.

Sustainability at the Core

Mulbury’s commitment runs deeper than marketing language. Every timber frame is made from 100 per cent recycled Australian hardwood, primarily Victorian Ash and Mountain Ash sourced from Melbourne building sites. Occasionally rare species such as Red Gum or historic Wharf Ironbark appear in limited editions. Acrylic glazing contains 50 per cent recycled content and offers high UV protection.

The environmental numbers are impressive. Since 1994 the business has saved more than 265 tonnes of timber from landfill. At least 85 per cent of the workshop’s energy comes from solar power. Packaging uses biodegradable bubble wrap and film, re-used cardboard boxes and home-compostable shipping labels. Sawdust is given to chicken and mushroom farmers or landscapers, and the team continually looks for ways to reuse every scrap.

Mulbury also donates regularly to sustainable charities and aligns its practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action. The result is a product that is both beautiful and genuinely low-impact.

 

A Range Built for Real Homes and Real Stories

The product range is broader than many customers expect. Standard picture frames come in a variety of widths and finishes — natural, oiled, black, grey, and more — each piece showing the unique grain, nail holes and character of its previous life. Floating frames for canvas art, deep shadow-box frames, multi-photo frames and custom work are all available.

Limited-edition pieces, such as the striking Wharf Ironbark frames salvaged from Melbourne’s historic piers and wharves, showcase timber with extraordinary figure and history. Homeware extends to coatracks, hooks, lining boards and other functional objects, all carrying the same recycled-timber DNA.

Custom framing is a particular strength. Clients can bring artworks, certificates, memorabilia or family photographs and have them framed to exact specifications. The workshop handles everything from corporate awards nights to private collections, always using the same sustainable materials.

Because each length of timber is unique, no two frames are identical. Customers ordering online are encouraged to embrace that natural variation — it is part of the charm.

 

The Highett Workshop and 26 Advantage Gallery

Stepping into 26 Advantage Road feels more like entering a creative studio than a conventional factory. The industrial space is open and inviting, filled with timber, tools, finished frames and rotating displays of art. Mulbury operates both a working workshop and the 26 Advantage Gallery, which hosts exhibitions by resident artists and guest makers. Visitors are welcome to browse, purchase frames and homeware, and chat with the team.

The location in Highett places Mulbury firmly within Melbourne’s Bayside community while remaining easily accessible from the wider south-eastern suburbs. Free parking is available and the space is open to the public during business hours.

What Customers Say

Feedback consistently highlights both quality and character. One customer wrote: “Words can’t describe how beautiful these photo frames are. I’ll never be buying frames from anywhere else. They are works of art on their own.” Another noted the pleasure of supporting a local business that does not cost the planet: “I won’t be framing my artworks with anything else.” Many mention the personal service and the quiet satisfaction of knowing their frame once formed part of a Melbourne building.

Visiting Mulbury

Address: 26 Advantage Road Highett VIC 3190 Australia

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday: Closed

Contact: Phone: (03) 9532 3424 Email: hello@mulbury.com.au Website: www.mulbury.com.au

Worldwide shipping is available, and local customers can collect orders from the Highett workshop. An extensive FAQ section on the website includes helpful videos on measuring, installing and caring for frames.

A Quiet Success Story

Mulbury’s achievement is understated yet significant. In an age of disposable décor, Gerry Melder and his team have built a business that values permanence, material honesty and environmental responsibility. Every frame that leaves the Highett workshop carries a second life and a clear story — timber that might have been buried in landfill now hangs on walls across Australia and beyond, framing the moments that matter most.

For anyone seeking picture frames or homeware that are both beautiful and responsible, Mulbury remains one of Melbourne’s genuine local treasures.