Glendowner Gallery: Renmark, in the Riverland Region of South Australia

From the road leading into Renmark you'll come across a rambling old homestead called Glendowner. Out back is the old packing shed, a reminder of the days when this place was the centre of a major fruit plantation established soon after the Chaffey Brothers founded the irrigation settlement back in the 1880s.

It's a peaceful place - that is until it's owner Chris Pearce sets to work with the chainsaw on what to some, may look like a tired, clapped out piece of pepperwood. But step inside Glendowner Gallery and you'll soon appreciate what Chris can do with a slab of old timber.

For Chris his wanderings though old Riverland sheds uncover bits of history to be incorporated in his next piece of furniture like the remains of an old wagon wheel which he’s fashioned into the surround of a dressing table mirror:

“It's the old story that one guy sees it as firewood, the farmer sees it as a post and I look at it and say ah. that's furniture. That's the top of a dresser or table top or something.”

He might use several types of wood in some pieces:

“In this one we’ve got red gum on the top, recycled jarrah and old apricot trays from the early apricot cutting days and that’s and that's actually pine recycled from one of the local packing houses.”

In a way, the works are a repository of Riverland history - every individual piece has story and whoever buys it gets that story. There’s an example of the pressed metal in some cupboard doors that came from the ceiling of an old Riverland cottage - now long gone. There’s an antique tile on another piece and a red gum burl from the back-blocks. It like the Captain's desk is all about retaining some of the region's fast disappearing heritage. The pepperwood tree, which provided the wood for a desktop was planted by one of the Riverland's early boundary riders.

“He came to the district which is now known as Loxton and he planted this tree. And later they named the district - the town after him.”

The day we visited Chris was in the back shed working on a new piece, where at times reflects on how his life has changed. Not so long ago he owned his own building company employing ten tradesmen.

“It was work all day book work all night and try to get the tradesmen on the job the next day and I was going mad. This is the exact opposite. These days I don't get up until I wake up and when I wake up I get up if I want to."

And when he wants to he makes fabulous pieces, which are on show at Glendowner Gallery. It's on the outskirts of Renmark as you head into town. If you require further information please email info@postcards-sa.com.au