Designed.
Handmade.
Melbourne.
Our Ethos
We combine the best of modern and traditional woodworking and joinery techniques to produce handmade, limited edition and fully bespoke pieces made exclusively from sustainably-sourced, Australian native timber species.
Our studio was founded in 2012 as an experimental furniture workshop with our designs fusing 15 years of experience in studying and practising architecture around the globe with a passion for sculptural craft and local indigenous timbers.
As part of our ongoing commitments to reducing our carbon footprint, in 2019 Sawdust Bureau founded the Treemaker Initiative - (a 1% income pledge towards tree planting and protection charities for furniture makers, builders, cabinetmakers and other industries). More information can be found here.
Our Workshop
We are located in Maribyrnong (7km west of Melbourne’s CBD) at Jack’s Magazine - an historic, former ammunitions storage facility on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, recently revived by Working Heritage and Renew Australia as a creative hub for artists and makers.
Our workshop, built in the 1870's, was once the loading dock where gunpowder was transported through to the main magazine buildings for safe storage. The workshop comes complete with a canal and a railway track, fitted with a mobile workbench mounted to an original 150-year old trolley.
**Please note that for Health and Safety reasons Sawdust Bureau's workshop is open by appointment only**
Awards
Ostberg Bench Shortlisted 2015 ACE Emerging Designer Award
Pinch Noir Winner 2016 VIVID Award
Pinch Noir Winner 2016 Melbourne Design Awards - Gold
Ancestors Winner 2017 Melbourne Design Awards - Gold
Pinch Noir Shortlisted 2017 Clarence Prize
Pinch Noir Shortlisted 2017 German Design Award
The Dish Shortlisted 2018 Studio Review Furniture Award
The Dish Honourable Mention 2019 VIVID Award
Dining Island Winner 2020 Good Design Award
In Clover Winner 2022 Good Design Award
In Clover Shortlisted 2022 Dezeen Award
In Clover Shortlisted 2022 Victorian Premier's Design Award
Our work has been profiled in publications such as Green Magazine, Inside Magazine, Grand Designs, The Age, Herald Sun, Domain, Wood Review and Design Milk. Pinch Noir bench also made a cameo appearance in Leigh Whannell’s (creator of the Saw franchise) 2018 motion picture sci-fi release, ‘Upgrade’.
In 2018 were invited to exhibit at Craft Victoria's curated 'This is Not Memphis' exhibition, alongside the work of Adam Markowitz, Bern Chandley, Damien Wright, Daniel Poole, and Laura McCusker
Our Team
BRYAN CUSH
Director & Founder
BSc Architecture & Masters Architecture
VIVIENNE WONG
Intern
Bryan has 20 years experience in multi-disciplinary design practices, and studied Architecture & Design in Glasgow, Eindhoven and Melbourne.
Japanese and Scandinavian artists and craftspeople have been key influencers in developing his design aesthetic, but he always strives for originality with a distinctly Australian flavour. The design approaches learnt in architecture are applied to his furniture design - with each conceived as scaled- down architectural form.
Bryan is a co-host on the fortnightly ‘Shop Stool’ woodworking and design podcast and founder of the Treemaker Initiative to encourage designer / makers to divert 1% of their income to tree planting, reforestation and biodiversity projects.
After a 15yr career as a dancer with the Australian Ballet, Vivienne found herself with the rare opportunity to start things over again and learn a new craft. Photography and woodworking were long standing interests. Woodworking however was a perfect mix of physicality and artistry.
Vivienne joined Sawdust Bureau at the beginning of 2018 to help her develop her skills and gain experience in the industry of furniture making and design.
Not yet entirely sure where her footing lies in the world of furniture making Vivienne hopes to one day bridge this gap, incorporating her knowledge and experience in the arts industry into her new craft.
