Our story — Meet GARTH
Crestwood Goods started in the workshop my grandfather built in the 1950s, tucked behind the family farm near Manjimup. He had a knack for turning scrap timber into something functional, and by the time I was old enough to hold a hammer, I’d taken over half his bench space. My dad kept the workshop going, but it was always a side project next to the farm. I came back to the same bench in 2010, right after studying design over in Perth, with a rough idea that we could bring some of these old methods into homes across Australia.
Before this, I’d spent a couple of years working in a furniture repair shop in Dunsborough. It wasn’t glamorous, but I learnt a lot about materials — what lasts and what doesn’t. I’d watch old jarrah tables come through the doors with decades of wear still standing strong, while cheaper imports were splitting within a few years. That stuck with me. When I finally moved back to Manjimup, I didn’t want to just make things that looked nice. They had to wear well, like the old jarrah pieces my grandfather swore by.
The turning point happened in 2014 at the Boyanup Farmers Market. I’d set up a small stall with some ceramic pieces my brother-in-law helped fire and a few recycled timber trays made from old fence posts. We sold out by 11 a.m. — quicker than I’d expected, and to be honest, it caught me off guard. That first weekend was a mix of relief and a wake-up call. We didn’t have enough stock for the following week, and suddenly I needed a system to scale up. So I sat down, planned everything out, and officially registered Crestwood Goods later that month.
These days, Crestwood Goods is still based out of our workshop in Fremantle, though it looks a bit different now. We’ve got a team of six, and we work with local suppliers like WA Bamboo and a Melbourne-based ceramics studio for some of the materials. Every batch we make, we still check at the workbench before packing it. That Manjimup workshop taught me to take my time, so we do.
— Still at the workbench — GARTH, GARTH ANDREW DRINKWATER
Journal
Where We Source Our Bamboo and Timber
The bamboo for our cutlery comes from Manjimup, and there’s a story behind how we pair it with local timber.
Our bamboo cutlery starts its life in Manjimup, where a family-run farm has been growing clumping bamboo since 2009. It’s not the sort of bamboo that runs wild or wrecks fences; this variety is tight, controlled, and grown in sections of paddock that used to sit fallow. The family there reckons the clumps have saved their soil from erosion during heavy winters. One cutting gives us hundreds of slender blanks that we shape in our Fremantle workshop.
The handles for some of our cutlery sets include marri or jarrah offcuts we source from a timber mill in Busselton. These bits would normally get tossed into the scrap pile, but the mill saves them for us. Trays of irregular pieces arrive every month, and we spend an afternoon sorting through them. There’s always a story in the wood grain — storm seasons, droughts, bushfires. Marri usually has more twists and scars, while jarrah glows deeper after oiling.
Shaping the handles involves a mixture of old and new tools. The bamboo blanks go through a modern CNC router we invested in last year. The timber handles, though, still get shaped using a sanding drum my dad bolted together in 1982. It’s loud, it’s clunky, and it leaves your shirt covered in sawdust, but I’m not ready to let it go just yet. Once everything’s sanded smooth, the pieces are glued and left to cure on racks in the afternoon sun.
Every part of this process sparks memories for me. I grew up watching my Mum and Dad tussle over whether marri or jarrah made better handles — Dad was a marri man, through and through. Now it’s my turn to keep the tradition going with some tweaks of my own. Sourcing sustainably is one thing. Making sure you’re excited to work with what arrives is just as important.
Next time you’re holding one of our knives or forks, have a glance at the handle. If it’s marri and has a deep grain swirl, chances are it sat out in twenty years of wild WA weather before making its way to you. And if it’s bamboo, well, that little node that catches the light probably came from a sunny paddock in Manjimup.
Spring Blankets and the Great WA Weather Switch
Spring in WA means cool evenings and warm days — tricky, but perfect for our lightweight throws.
The weather around Fremantle in spring can’t seem to make up its mind. One moment, you’re opening up every window in the house; the next, you’re reaching for something to throw over your shoulders. I’ve been keeping one of our organic cotton throw blankets near the kitchen table for exactly that reason. It’s always nice to have something breathable that still keeps the breeze at bay.
Our blankets are made with 100% organic cotton, spun and woven by a small mill in Melbourne. They’ve been around since the 1950s and honestly, I don’t think they’ve changed much — which I mean as a compliment. What I love about their work is how robust yet soft the fabric feels. You can drop these blankets onto a loveseat, bundle them into a basket, or toss them over your shoulder heading out to the veranda, and they just fall right back into shape.
I find myself using mine most often in the awkward, in-between times. Like those sunny mornings when the tiles in the kitchen are still icy cold. Or at night, when the cheerful spring sea breeze turns stubbornly chilly. I’ve even taken mine to the park for one of those post-rain picnics, where the grass is dry but the air smells damp. It’s ended up in the boot of the car more than once.
The colours we chose for our throws lean into WA’s coastal palette — muted greens, sandy neutrals, and stormy blues. I think that’s why they end up blending into almost any room. I’ve had feedback from people who keep them in their bedrooms draped at the end of the bed, but also from someone using theirs to keep their dog couch-friendly. Whatever works best, I reckon.
For now, with spring reminding us to scratch out new routines, I’ll keep mine handy. Because in WA, you never really know when the weather will flip. And having an excuse to sit down quietly with a blanket isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Our Ceramics Partner and Their Fremantle Kiln
Our ceramic mugs come from a Fremantle potter with a kiln firing method that’s been in use for 30 years.
If you’ve ever wrapped your hands around one of our ceramic mugs, you should know they were fired less than 10km from our workshop. Our ceramics partner, Ben Pickering, has been running his pottery studio just off High Street in Fremantle for three decades. He’s not one for social media or newsletters — he’d rather be covered in clay than emails — but he’s quietly become the go-to name for local restaurants, cafes, and a few small brands like ours.
Ben uses a reduction firing method in his gas kiln, which gives his pieces these earthy, slightly unpredictable finishes. You might notice a faint blush just under the rim of our mugs or a darker patch near the base. That’s all down to how the flames and gases move inside the kiln during firing. He told me once it’s a bit like baking sourdough — you can control a lot, but heat and timing always leave their own stamp.
I first met Ben when I was a kid tagging along with Dad to pick up some stoneware bowls. Ben’s hair was longer then, and his studio was even more chaotic. Now I stop by every month or so to chat about glazes and pick up production runs. Lately, we’ve been talking about testing a new slip glaze that might show off more of the natural clay tones underneath. No promises yet, but if we can pull it off, it might make its way into some limited-run mugs down the track.
Each mug takes about two weeks from the first shaping to the final firing. It’s not fast, but it’s steady — and it suits Ben’s pace just fine. He’s told me he’s got no plans to retire anytime soon. 'I want the kiln to stop working before I do,' he jokes. Honestly, I hope it keeps going for decades more because his work has become a quiet cornerstone of Fremantle ceramics.
So next time you’re holding one of our mugs, know that it’s as local as it gets. From the spin of the potter’s wheel to the click of the kiln, Ben’s touch is in every cup.
Dad’s Leather Journals and the Creak of Wire Bindings
The leather journals we make remind me of sitting in Dad’s shop, hearing the quiet creak of bindings being tested.
Growing up, Dad always kept a leftover leather journal on his workbench. It held a mix of things — rough sketches of handles, timber supply notes, and the odd shopping list. He’d push the pen hard enough into the pages that you could feel the indentation on the next five sheets. I still have one of those old journals stashed in a drawer somewhere, pages riddled with little x’s and question marks. It sits weirdly heavy in your hand, almost like it’s full of time.
When I first started making journals myself, I kept coming back to the way Dad’s felt. The leather wasn’t pristine — often it had a scar or a line from where an animal brushed up against barbed wire. The wire bindings creaked when you opened them too wide, and the pages weren’t stark white but something softer, easier on the eyes. That’s what stayed with me.
We source our leather now from a tannery in Northam. They use a cold-water finishing process that keeps the texture of the hide more natural. The paper comes from a mill in Geelong, and the binding wire is surprisingly still made in Port Kembla. There aren’t many places still doing wire spiral production locally, but these folks have kept the machines humming since the 1970s.
Each journal we produce gets checked for that opening “creak.” It’s not something I could ever explain well to someone who doesn’t make them. It’s just a sound and feel that speaks to a lifetime around these little books. Dad would’ve called it an accident of good materials working together, but I think he knew better.
Whenever someone asks why we bother making something as simple as a leather journal, my answer is usually, 'Because they last.' A journal like this will outlive most of the things you jot in it. And with any luck, someone else will find it decades from now, sit with it in their hands, and feel the weight of old stories.
Customer reviews
Lisa M. — Fremantle, WA — 2024-02-14 — 5/5
Beautiful throw blanket
I bought the Crestwood Organic Cotton Throw Blanket, and it's so soft and perfect for cool summer nights. Delivery to WA was quick, too.
Tom B. — St Kilda, VIC — 2024-06-10 — 4/5
Gorgeous mug set
Ordered the ceramic mug set, and they’re as nice as they looked online. One box corner was slightly dented during shipping but the mugs were fine.
Kylie T. — Marrickville, NSW — 2025-01-25 — 5/5
Perfect for journaling
The leather journal is stunning and has that classic leather feel. Perfect for writing down my daily thoughts.
Jason C. — New Farm, QLD — 2024-09-03 — 5/5
Surprisingly fast delivery
I ordered the bamboo cutlery set, and it arrived faster than expected. The pieces are sturdy and lightweight.
Matt H. — Northcote, VIC — 2024-12-19 — 4/5
Relaxing candle scent
The aromatherapy candle smells amazing and burns evenly. Could be a little bigger for the price, though.
Amelia W. — Hobart, TAS — 2024-11-28 — 5/5
Lovely gift idea
Gave the leather journal as a gift, and they loved it. The quality is excellent, and it even comes nicely packaged.
Sarah L. — Subiaco, WA — 2025-03-02 — 5/5
Really useful for travel
The bamboo cutlery set is perfect for taking to work or picnics. Easy to clean and convenient to carry around.
Diana F. — Paddington, QLD — 2024-08-11 — 4/5
Soft and warm
The organic cotton throw blanket is very soft, but it sheds a tiny bit. Still happy with my purchase overall, especially for the cool winters here.
Shipping
All orders are shipped from Fremantle, WA, and we deliver across Australia. Our standard shipping is handled by Australia Post, while express orders are delivered by StarTrack. Depending on your location, standard shipping typically takes 2-7 business days, while express delivery takes 1-3 business days.
Orders placed before 2pm AEST on weekdays will be processed on the same day. Orders over $100 qualify for free standard shipping. A flat rate applies for orders below this threshold. Our packaging is select to ensure your items arrive in excellent condition, and it’s largely recyclable.
If your items arrive damaged, please contact us at support@crestwoodgoods.com within 48 hours of delivery, including photos of any damage. We’ll resolve the issue as quickly as possible.