# History

- Link: https://www.jahroc.com.au/about-jahroc/history
- Published: 2014-08-03T15:06:10+08:00
- Author: JahRoc Galleries

1982 TO TODAY

# The JahRoc Story So Far

From a backyard shed in Scarborough to a Margaret River workshop, and a new chapter
with Echo Marine Group.

[Explore designer furniture](https://www.jahroc.com.au/designer-furniture/)

The JahRoc Story

![Jahroc Story So Far Janie Gary David 1 E1557902215790](https://www.jahroc.com.
au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Janie-Gary-David-1-e1557902215790.
jpg)

## 1982

In 1982 Gary Bennett and David Paris were members of ‘Bob Hawke’s Surf Team’ when
they first bumped into each other, while searching with their girlfriends Janie 
Nelson and Sue Drage for spare parts for their old surfer’s wagons in a wreckers
yard in Nambour, Queensland. Gary was a young carpenter who had been on a working
holiday in Queensland and David was a cabinet maker by trade. The girls struck up
a conversation and bingo, connections were made. All were originally from Western
Australia and had many things in common – surfing, mutual friends, and loathing 
of the education system!

Strong friendships were formed, but eventually ‘the party’ ended and they went their
separate ways. David travelled the world for several years and Gary continued his
journey around Australia, stopping along the way to help the late Shirley Strachan(
ex Skyhooks and Better Homes and Gardens) to build a cedar and Oregon surf shop 
on Victoria’s Phillip Island.

The JahRoc Story

## 1987 – JahRoc Furniture is Founded

Gary founded JahRoc in 1987, in his backyard shed in the Perth beachside suburb 
of Scarborough. Inspired by a dining and coffee table his parents had bought which
was made by South West artisan Geoff Juniper, Gary got excited about what could 
be made using local hardwoods and simple tools. He started by making coffee tables
hewn from hand split pieces of Toodyay stone and old bits of Jarrah salvaged from
building sites, hence the name Jah (Jarrah) and Roc (Rock/stone). He had discovered
the stone when visiting his sister Joanne at a farm where she was living while teaching
in Toodyay.

 * ![First Jahroc Coffee Table 1987](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
   2014/12/First-Jahroc-Coffee-Table-1987.jpg)
 * ![Jahroc Story So Far Kevin And Gary Splitting Toodyay Stone](https://www.jahroc.
   com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Kevin-and-Gary-splitting-
   Toodyay-Stone-1024x768.jpg)

_One of the first JahRoc Cofee tables made from recycled Jarrah (Jah) and Toodyay
stone (Roc)
Gary and good mate Kevin Mahony hand splitting stone in Toodyay 1987

## 1988 – A Partnership Began

In 1988, Gary moved the business to Osborne Park, as he was literally driving his
neighbours mad and rented the rear of a shed from a mate. As Gary’s business grew,
he soon realised that he needed some help–whilst his artistic talents were excellent,
his organisational skills were lacking. At this point, David returned from his world
travels and decided to buy into JahRoc and thus the partnership was formed. David
also became excited about Gary’s sister Joanne, and subsequently married her, cementing
a family partnership! With David’s cabinet making and organisational skills, JahRoc
Kitchens was established to help fund the creative side of the business that Gary
had been developing. 80% of their business was kitchens (which they did not particularly
like doing), the other 20% was creative furniture which was their real passion.

![Jahroc Story So Far David Paris In The Office](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-David-Paris-in-the-office-1024x678.jpg)

![Jahroc Story So Far Gary And David With Bessie Truck And Jack Dog](https://www.
jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Gary-and-David-with-
Bessie-truck-and-Jack-dog-1024x686.jpg)

_The boys with Gary’s dog Jack who was a constant companion in the early JahRoc 
days, in “Bessie” the truck 1989. Bessie sadly perished in the Margaret River fires
in 2011._

![Gary Working On Web Chair Osorne Park 1988](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2014/12/Gary-working-on-Web-Chair-Osorne-park-1988.jpg)

_Gary working on a challenging early design using bent laminated Karri that was 
reclaimed from the State Foundry in Fremantle on it’s demolition._

![Jahroc Story So Far Early Dining Table Design](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-early-dining-table-design-.jpg)

_The finished work photographed at Wylunga National Park 1988._

## 1989 – Off To Hollywood

In 1989, they decided to exhibit some of their creative artistic furniture in art
galleries in the South West of Western Australia. Their designs were well received
and they also started to receive industry recognition. This gave them confidence
that their future lay in the creation of fine and creative furniture rather than
producing kitchen cabinets.

Gary also took some of their furniture products to Los Angeles and went cold calling,
door to door trying to find a market for their product, and was eventually invited
to exhibit their work in Beverley Hills. South West artisan Peter Godden joined 
him on that journey. This proved successful and they began exporting to the USA 
on a regular basis. This followed with exhibitions in Milan, Italy and Japan in 
1991, from which further sales eventuated. They also began to win awards for their
work and this gave them confidence and the belief that they had a unique product.

![Jahroc Story So Far Gary And Peter Godden In Usa](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Gary-and-Peter-Godden-in-USA.jpg)

![The Story So Far The Hunt Coffee Table](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2019/05/The-Story-So-Far-The-Hunt-Coffee-Table-1024x663.jpg)

_“The Hunt” coffee table by JahRoc which was exhibited by the Western Australian
Government in Milan 1991._

![Jahroc Story So Far Jambawambi Desk Early Design](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Jambawambi-Desk-early-design.jpg)

_“Jimbawambi Desk” made from Buon Pine and WA Black granite sold in Gunyulgup Gallery
in Yallingup and ended up in the Ginza in Tokyo 1991._

![Entry Statement](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Entry-Statement.
jpg)

_Early inspiration came from George Nagasaki in the form of this Entry Statement
made using Sheoak and River Banksia._

## 1991 Was A Tough Year!

They also suffered some setbacks along the way from which they nearly did not survive,
but from which they learnt some valuable, albeit expensive lessons. 1991 was a particularly
bad year. A large project that they undertook for ‘a friend of a friend’ turned 
into a financial disaster when the developer went broke leaving them owing $35,000
to their suppliers. A foray into the granite quarry business was equally unsuccessful.
Their accountant delivered the bad news – ‘it was all over and that they should 
go off and do something else’. David briefly flirted with this option whilst Gary
and an apprentice (Matt Hammill), who offered to work for nothing, persisted. Soon
David rejoined and decided to focus on what they were passionate about and what 
they did best – making artistic furniture out of solid and recycled timber. Gary
and David recommenced by travelling to the south coast for some creative inspiration
and to do some surfing. During this trip they designed a new range of furniture 
and when they returned to Perth, created the prototypes and then displayed them 
in a number of South West galleries. The designs proved very successful, and they
managed to pay off their creditors and ‘survived to live another day’. In Gary’s
surfing language ‘we got dumped, but did not suffer a complete wipeout’.

![The Story So Far Homesteader Dining Table 1991](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/The-Story-So-Far-Homesteader-Dining-Table-1991-1024x716.jpg)

_The Homesteader Dining Table design was created in 1991 and is still a popular 
piece nearly 30 years later! As is the Kitchen Work Bench_.

![Jahroc Story So Far Plant Stands Early E1557907116404](https://www.jahroc.com.
au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Plant-Stands-early-e1557907116404.
jpg)

_Recycled Jarrah Plant Stands 1991_

![Jahroc Story So Far Kitchen Work Bench 1992](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Kitchen-Work-Bench-1992.jpg)

_Moondyne Kitchen Work Bench 1991_

![Jahroc Story So Far Joanne And Olivia Baby](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Joanne-and-Olivia-Baby.jpg)

_Joanne Paris with baby Olivia on a new bed Gary designed and made for his fiance
Lara 1993._

## 1993 – The York Chapter Begins

As their business began to grow, they realised they needed new premises. Nothing
around Perth was suitable. In 1993, Gary took his fiancé, Lara to visit his parents
in York, a small wheat belt town where he had spent his childhood, and they discovered
what was to become the new home for their business – a dilapidated old flour mill
about to be auctioned. They decided to attend the auction and bid for it. They were
successful at auction and purchased it for $155,000, $1000 less than the maximum
that their bank had given them approval for. Given that the losing bidder had planned
to demolish the building, it was significant for both Gary and David, as well as
the town of York and lovers of heritage.

![Jahroc Story So Far York Flour Mill Before Reno 1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-York-Flour-Mill-before-reno-1.jpg)

![Jahroc Story So Far Purchase Of Flour Mill](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-purchase-of-Flour-Mill.jpg)

## A Renovators Dream (or Nightmare?)

The Old York Flour Mill was constructed in 1892, and dominates the entrance to the
historic wheat belt town of York. It is a four story structure, built using convict
hand made bricks and occupies two acres. A week after the auction, Gary and David
realised the challenge they had taken on. According to Gary – ‘an incredibly derelict
building with missing windows, heaps of graffiti and holes in the roof and floors’.
Family members and friends thought they were crazy. Their bank manager thought so
too – ‘why would you move from Scarborough Beach Road with 70,000 cars a day driving
past, to York with only 3,000 people in total” Knowing more about the market than
what their bank manager, Gary and David responded with ‘Why not” They saw the huge
marketing and operating potential.

Within two weeks, they were operating from their new premises and Gary and his wife
Lara were literally living in a tent under one of the sheds. So the task of restoring
the complex of derelict buildings began. The first goal was to ‘close up the building’,
i.e. to fix the roof, windows, doors etc. The first twelve months were very chaotic
and very hard work. It was also a case of ‘sink or swim’, as they could not afford
to stop or slow down otherwise their business would have drowned.

![Jahroc Story So Far Dave Jo Lara Gary Jack Outside York Flour Mill](https://www.
jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Dave-Jo-Lara-Gary-Jack-
outside-York-Flour-Mill.jpg)

_Dave, Jo Lara and Gary with Jack 1994_

## Sink Or Swim….

_They had little money and what they did earn, they put back into the business. 
Like their furniture, which was mostly made out of recycled timber, th_rough necessity
they recycled materials that they found on site to renovate the building, which 
became their gallery. Apart from their own efforts, they had support from family,
friends and even locals who were sympathetic to what they were trying to do, especially
when they realized that they were actually restoring the building and were not pulling
it down to make their furniture from it. The local ‘Friends of the Old Flour Mill’
group contributed $4,000 to help fund some of the 40 double hung windows that needed
replacing.

Their courageous decision to move to the country and create a tourism based outlet
for their business seemed to be vindicated as their turnover doubled in their first
year of operations in York.

![Jahroc Story So Far York Workshop E1558069005748](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-York-Workshop-e1558069005748.jpg)

The renovations continued and as their business began to grow, so did their staff
and number of visitors who came to York to view their business. In 1995, one of 
their visitors to the gallery was Brent Stewart, who owned a Perth marketing company
called ‘Market Equity’. He undertook the development of a five-year business plan.
Gary remembers looking at the plan and thinking that there was no way they could
reach the sales targets in the plan. Nevertheless they adopted it, and to their 
amazement they achieved it in three years.

![Jahroc Story So Far York Flour Mill Reno Complete 2002](https://www.jahroc.com.
au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-York-Flour-Mill-reno-complete-
2002.jpg)

1998 Renovated York Flour Mill which was quite an achievement for the JahRoc team.

## The Power Of Listening And Doing

Gary and David learnt quickly the value of listening to advice, albeit they were
selective as they picked and chose what they thought was relevant to their market.
One of those pieces of advice was to realise that they were in fact not in the furniture
business but in the lifestyle business. Gary firmly believes that ‘people who buy
our furniture are buying a lifestyle’.

 There have been many defining moments in their business and none more so than in
1995, when they decided to opt out of the production side of the business. For a
long time, they believed that no one could do things better than themselves, but
if the business was to grow, then they had to learn to delegate and focus on managing
the business. They also realized that they had to take responsibility for those 
aspects of managing the business that they were individually best at – Gary would
focus on the creative and marketing aspects of the business, while David the day
to day organizational needs and financial control of the business.

![Roo Silhouette Rocking Chair Sheoak Timber](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2020/07/Roo-Silhouette-Rocking-Chair-Sheoak-Timber.jpg)

![Jahroc Story So Far The Team 1995](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-the-team-1995.jpg)

_The growing JahRoc team 1997_

## Growing A Business Cluster

In 1996, a group of local jazz enthusiasts approached them to use the unused western
shed for their annual Jazz Festival. The group re-roofed and re-floored the shed
and three months later David and Gary found themselves wearing suits at a $175 a
head show, watching James Morrison, Tommy Emmanuel and Grace Knight, whilst they
ate crayfish and drank wine. The Premier arrived in a helicopter, and 1,000 people
by train especially catered for the occasion. Gary remembers looking at David and
saying “Oh, how your luck can change!”

With the growing number of visitors to the gallery, they also realized that the 
business and its clients would benefit from the presence of other craft businesses
and a café. A café facility was created in the mill’s old office complex, and rented
out.

Attracted by the success of the Gallery, other businesses were introduced. Gary’s
father-in-law (Leon Baker) renovated the third floor of the gallery to set up his
jewellery business. Other businesses included ‘Errol’s Forge’ and Megan Gardiner’s‘
Card with a View’. It was apparent to them that this business cluster or “incubator”
concept was a great opportunity to add value to the visitor experience and so they
opened up more space for additional businesses. It was also a way of giving back,
so that other artists could have the same opportunity as they were given when they
paid $50 per week to rent part of someone else’s shed. It also solved the problem
of having to maintain some very large spaces which always needed cleaning.

By 1998, 11 other enterprises operated in the complex, including the Café, a blacksmith,
hardware outlet, and hairdresser. The same year Gary decided he was too far from
the surf so he and Lara purchased a block on the coast in Margaret River with the
long term plan of returning to his Southwest roots.

 * ![Jahroc Story So Far Errol Smith Blacksmith](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
   uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Errol-Smith-Blacksmith.jpg)
 * ![Jahroc Story So Far Dove Tail Joints](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
   uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Dove-Tail-Joints-1024x751.jpg)
 * ![Jahroc Story So Far Gary And David Early 1996](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-
   content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Gary-and-David-early-1996.jpg)

## 1998 – Margaret River Dreaming

In 1999 Gary commenced construction of what would become a 10 year project on their
new home and studio by the sea in Gnarabup Beach, Margaret River. In 2001 Gary, 
Lara, Emily, Rose and Frank moved into the shed of their new home where they stayed
for 9 months while Gary finished the top story enough to move in.

![Jahroc Story So Far Gary Working On Gnarabup House](https://www.jahroc.com.au/
wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Gary-working-on-Gnarabup-House-1024x685.
jpg)

![Jahroc Story So Far Logo On Wood](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Logo-on-wood-1024x683.jpg)

JahRoc Furniture now in Margaret River

## Margaret River Design Studio

Whilst Gary was busy building he continued to design new prototypes and undertake
special commissions in his studio/ workshop in the under croft of their new home.
Living back near the ocean was having a very positive effect on his creativity.

One very special commission was “Sue’s Chaise Lounge’. Having not really ever designed
any soft furnishings before, Gary wrestled a bit with this piece  for Sue Ulrich
and Bill Anderson. He persevered at Sue’s insistence and the finished piece went
on to take out not only Excellence in Lounge furniture in the 2002 National Furniture
Industry of Australia Awards, JahRoc also took out the ‘Best Of The Best’ over all
categories. Not bad for a first up effort designing lounge furniture. It was a great
boost for the team and good vindication for the move back to ocean !!

“ I still remember finishing that piece at about 9pm in my Marg’s studio and getting
tingles up my spine as I gave the oil a final polish. I knew it was special” Says
Gary

![Sues Modern Chaise Lounge](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/
Sues-Modern-Chaise-Lounge.jpg)

Sue’s Chaise Lounge

## 2003 – JahRoc Galleries Opens

In December 2003, JahRoc established a retail outlet in Margaret River, a coastal
town in the South West of Western Australia, famous for its wineries and surfing.
With Gary and his family now living in their new home/ studio at the beach it made
sense to set up another gallery and with so many talented artists and creatives 
working in the area it was an instant success. They had returned to the area that
in the early days had embraced their furniture designs and had encouraged them to
pursue their passions. They bought another restored heritage building as their gallery
space.

In 2005 a major addition was made to JahRoc’s Margaret River Gallery with the design
and construction of a 200m2 contemporary space that connected the two old cottages
together. The rear cottage was renovated to become a manager’s residence/gallery
space. The additions made it possible to not only display their own furniture, but
also art works by emerging and established Australian artists.

![Gallery Front Promo](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Gallery-
Front-Promo.jpg)

## 2004 – Silhouettes Collaboration

JahRoc has undertaken several collaborative exhibitions with some of their exhibiting
artists, creating unique exhibitions crossing genre’s such as Paintings, Furniture
and Poetry.

The first very successful Collaboration was “Silhouettes” in 2004, Furniture by 
JahRoc, Paintings by Shaun Atkinson, and Poetry by John Kinsella all inspired by
the Margaret River region. It came about after Gary and Lara attended an FIAA trade
mission to Italy to study the Italian Furniture design and manufacturing industry.
The big take-home for them was the need to produce work that had a sense of place.
The collection was exhibited in JahRoc’s Margaret River Gallery, Form Gallery in
Perth, and then the entire collection and it’s artists were flown to Italy where
it was exhibited in Florence.

[VIEW SILHOUETTES COLLECTION](https://www.jahroc.com.au/gallery-tag/silhouette-collection/)

 * ![Gallery Shop Furniture](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/
   Gallery-Shop-Furniture.jpg)

_2004 Silhouette Collaboration, JahRoc Furniture, Shaun Atkinson paintings, John
Kinsella poetry._

 * ![Silhouettes Gary In Studio1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/
   12/Silhouettes-Gary-in-studio1.jpg)

_Gary Bennett in Margaret River Design Studio_

## 2005 – The Lure Of The Ocean

In 2005 David, Joanne, Olivia and Virginia decided that Margaret River would become
their home as well. Having stayed at Gary and Lara’s home on several occasions they
found the ocean lifestyle just too hard to pass up. They purchased a beautiful small
farm between the beach and town and set about making plans to leave York.

## 2007 – Project Abrolhos Collaboration

In 2007 Gary and David collaborated with Larry Mitchell on ‘Project Abrolhos’ which
was also very successful. The boys spent 2 weeks in a friends Cray fishing camp 
to soak the place up and upon return Larry created 8 painting and Dave and Gary 
created 8 pieces of furniture. The show was pretty much a sell out with some of 
the pieces such as the ‘Cray Lounge’ chair still creating strong sales 10 years 
later.

[VIEW PROJECT ABROLHOS COLLECTION](https://www.jahroc.com.au/gallery-tag/abrolhos-collection/)

![Cray Lounge Chair Marri Timber With Red Fabric](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2015/02/Cray-Lounge-Chair-Marri-timber-with-red-fabric.jpg)

 * ![Windows Coffee Table](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/
   Windows-Coffee-Table.jpg)
 * ![Jetty 4 Yq9h3519](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/jetty-
   4-YQ9H3519.jpg)

## 2007 – New Margaret River Workshop

![Workshop Outside New](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Workshop-
outside_New.jpg)

JahRoc Workshop

By 2007 both gallery’s were selling so much work that it became very hard to keep
up with the orders, so the tough decision was made to pull out of their York gallery
and move the workshop to Margaret River.

A large bush block was purchased on the coast close to both Dave and Gary’s home
and yet another design and construction phase was entered. At this stage Dave was
commuting to York to run the business while Gary was building the new workshop in
Margaret River. Gary used rammed limestone for the walls and jarrah for the joinery,
all of which he made in his home studio. It has lots of natural light with great
bush views in all directions. The surf is only a dirt track away so the boys can
get a fix without having to travel too far. Plans have been made to create at least
5 artist studios so that JahRoc can continue their collaborative approach to their
craft.

![Jahroc Story So Far Jagarth In Margaret River Workshop](https://www.jahroc.com.
au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Jagarth-in-Margaret-River-workshop-
1024x683.jpg)

_Gary, Dave and Jagath in the Margaret River Workshop_

## 2008 – Goodbye York

In July 2008 JahRoc moved out of York completely. The Mill Gallery business was 
given to a friend who had moved to York so the town wouldn’t lose a major tourist
attraction. The knowledge that the Old York Flour Mill was left in a much better
condition than when they found it made Gary, David and their families proud of the
legacy they had left behind. The Flour Mill would remain a major land mark in York
for many years to come. While this was a sad end of an era as far as York goes it
was also an exciting new beginning for their artistic lives in Margaret River.

## 2009 – Project West Kimberley Collaboration

In 2009 the Boys once again Collaborated with Larry Mitchell but this time the inspiration
was the West Kimberley’s. Lara and Gary and Larry and Dianne Mitchell were lucky
enough to be invited to visit the area for 2 weeks aboard the “True North’ Luxury
cruiser complete with helicopter !!

It was an incredible way to soak up that very special region and the work they produced
was again very well received. JahRoc picked up yet another ‘Best of the Best’ award
amongst many others in the National FIAA furniture awards.

[VIEW WEST KIMBERLEY COLLECTION](https://www.jahroc.com.au/gallery-tag/kimberley-collection/)

![Kimberley River Flows Through Side](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2014/10/Kimberley-River-Flows-Through-side-1024x683.jpg)

 * ![Kimberley Croc Chaise Front](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/
   10/Kimberley-Croc-Chaise-front.jpg)
 * ![Kimberley Montgomery Bar Lg](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/
   10/Kimberley-Montgomery-Bar-LG.jpg)

## 2010 – Always Offshore Collaboration

In 2010 Gary embarked on a journey with renowned Australian Surfboard designer Jim
Banks to create some of his beautiful surfboard designs using Australian native 
timbers. What has become know as project ‘Always Offshore’ has also spilled over
into some very funky surf-inspired furniture.

[VIEW ALWAYS OFFSHORE COLLECTION](https://www.jahroc.com.au/gallery-tag/always-offshore-surfboards/)

![9ft Gun Surfboard Red King Brown Jim Shaping](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2014/12/9ft-gun-Surfboard-Red-King-Brown-Jim-shaping.jpg)

_Jim Banks shaping the solid jarrah 9ft Gun_

 * ![10ft Balsa Hollow Gun Surfboard Fin Detail](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
   uploads/2020/04/10ft-Balsa-Hollow-Gun-Surfboard-Fin-Detail-1024x683.jpg)
 * ![Gary Carving A Wooden Surfboard](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
   2015/05/Gary-carving-a-wooden-surfboard.jpg)

![Malibu Coffee Table Blackbutt](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/
10/Malibu-Coffee-Table-blackbutt.jpg)

Malibu Coffee Table

## 2011- Margaret River Bush Fires

2011 ended badly with the devastating Margaret River fires. Over 40 houses were 
lost as huge blazes ripped through coastal scrub from Elensbrook to Redgate. It 
was a very gnarly time. The boys had to evacuate JahRoc’s Kilcarnup workshop as 
the fire burnt straight over it taking out everything outside the workshop including
a large chunk of JahRoc’s best timber stock and even Bessie, the old Dodge truck
that they had owned for 25 years.

Dave and Gary were in the thick of it as volunteers for the Wallcliffe Bush Fire
Brigade. We considered ourselves very lucky not to lose our home in Gnarabup as 
2 adjoining neighbours did and 5 other houses in our street. While no lives were
lost in that fire, it was still really heartbreaking to see friend’s houses that
we had watched them lovingly build be destroyed by huge unrelenting flames, says
Gary. One house on the hill in Gnarabup that Gary and Dave had put fires out on 
3 occasions on Wednesday thinking it was saved saw it burn down the next day. They
were gutted. In the aftermath, it was like living in a bit of a war zone with everything
black and burnt and friends houses lying in ruins. The only good thing to come out
of it was the galvanising of our community with people coming together to help each
other out.           

![Jahroc Story So Far Dave Fire Fighting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2019/05/JahRoc-Story-So-Far-Dave-Fire-fighting-1024x768.jpg)

_Dave standing out the front of Gary and Lara’s home/ studio after returning and
finding out that firefighters had saved it. It was a bitter sweet moment as their
neighbour Ernie & Karen’s home in the background could not be saved._

 * ![Fire Damege Wedsnday 23 11 2011 Turck And Trailer 001](https://www.jahroc.com.
   au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Fire-Damege-Wedsnday-23-11-2011-Turck-and-Trailer-
   001.jpg)
 * ![Fire Damege Wedsnday 23 11 2011 Turck Burnt 002](https://www.jahroc.com.au/
   wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Fire-Damege-Wedsnday-23-11-2011-Turck-Burnt-002.jpg)
 * ![Fire Damege Wedsnday 23 11 2011 Turck Burnt 001](https://www.jahroc.com.au/
   wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Fire-Damege-Wedsnday-23-11-2011-Turck-Burnt-001.jpg)

_There used to be about 150m3 of beautiful timber stacked up to 5m high stored in
this part of JahRoc’s workshop yard. The fire burnt so hot you couldn’t even see
where the timber had been. Nothing but ash and their old truck left. Another example
showing the heat of the fire is that the windscreen of the truck melted onto the
dashboard. Apparently it takes temperature around 700 degrees Celsius to do that!_

## 2012 – Cape To Cape Collaboration

In 2012 Gary and Dave Collaborated with Larry Mitchell again using the stretch between
Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturalist for inspiration. It was a widely embraced body 
of work with pieces being shipped around the globe as a result.

We had struggled a bit to find suitable timber to replace what we had lost in the
fires, said Gary, but being the great community that it is that we live in, a friend
offered us some really nice Jarrah that had been salvaged after a storm some 15 
years earlier in Boyup Brook. From that we were able to produce some wonderful designs
that were very well received.

[VIEW MARGARET RIVER COLLECTION](https://www.jahroc.com.au/gallery-tag/margaret-river-collection/)

![Branching Out Jarrah Desk](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/
Branching-Out-Jarrah-Desk.jpg)

![The Block Dining Table With Filigree Chairs1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2014/10/The-Block-dining-table-with-Filigree-chairs1.jpg)

_Cape To Cape Margaret River: “The Block” Dining table was a tip of the hat to Geoff
Juniper who was an early inspiration for Gary with his simple yet imposing designs.
The filigree chair celebrates the sculptural forms of branches found just below 
the forest canopy’s so prevalent in our region._

![Display Cabinet Canopy 27 11 2012 001](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2014/09/Display-cabinet-Canopy-27-11-2012-001.jpg)

_Project Margaret river: Canopy Display Cabinet_

## The Spirit Of The Timber…

JahRoc continues to reinvent themselves and lately have been doing a lot of work
creating designs that are led by the amazing forms found in our native timbers. 
The ‘Folded Ranges Desk” was made by cutting and folding a very unusual shaped burl.
The burl sat in Gary’s workshop for 2 years before he finally decided what should
be made from it. These pieces of timber are so special, says Gary, that we can’t
afford to make an incision until we are sure we can do them justice. [VIEW FOLDED RANGES DESK](https://www.jahroc.com.au/home-furniture-shop/designer-furniture/desks/folded-ranges-designer-burl-desk/)

![Folded Ranges Designer Burl Desk Back](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2017/10/Folded-Ranges-Designer-Burl-Desk-back-1024x683.jpg)

_“Folded Ranges” Desk_

## Award Winners – Furniture Design

JahRoc has received over 50 awards, but probably the most significant and proudest
awards have been their first ‘Best of the Best at the FIAA, Australian Furniture
of the Year Awards 2002 with a piece entitled ‘Sue’s Chaise Lounge’, in 2003, ‘Best
First Generation Business Award’ and in 2005, ‘FIAA Western Australia Award for “
Best of the Best – Overall Categories” with the new Silhouettes Range and FIAA Australian
Award for “Best of the Best – overall categories in 2009 with their Kimberley Range.

[VIEW ALL AWARDS](https://www.jahroc.com.au/about/awards/)

![Fiaa Awards Best Of The Best Speach](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/
2020/10/FIAA-awards-Best-of-the-Best-Speach.jpg)

## 2012 to 2020 – The Gallery Grows from Strength to Strength

To be seen as a serious Art & Furniture Gallery by clients who wanted to invest 
and by artists who wanted to exhibit, it takes vision and determination. The vision
was first sewn by Gary, Lara, Joanne and David way back in the early days of the
York Mill Gallery, and upon moving into their Margaret River premises, the level
of opportunity to achieve this stepped up exponentially.

With a large contemporary space to showcase artwork, JahRoc Galleries began to attract
big career artists, whilst still representing those who were up and coming, and 
over these eight years they were becoming recognised as a not to be missed Destination
Gallery.

Always striving to do better, the team decided to engage a marketing team in 2018
to refresh their business goals and define their customer base. At this point Furniture
and Art representation in the gallery was about 50/50 but the quantity of furniture
orders were slowing, so something had to be done to reach the right market.

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/JahRoc-Galleries-83-Bussell-
Hwy-FinaleExhibition-In-Gallery.jpg)

JahRoc Galleries contemporary showcase and high end representation

## 2020 – COVID – What Will Happen?

Just when things were looking on the up after a few excellent months of business,
COVID hit… At the same time the Margaret River main street was in the middle of 
a re-vamp which impacted the accessibility of potential customers into town and 
through the gallery door.

April 2020 when WA locked down for the first time, Gary, Lara, Joanne and David 
looked at each other and seriously predicted that this will be the end of JahRoc
for sure.

Little did they know that the next three years would be the best in their whole 
career, achieving sales goals that they had previously only dreamed about.

![Desert Rose Jewellery](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Desert-
Rose-Jewellery-1024x769.jpg)

## 30th June 2023 – The End Of A JahRoc Chapter

After 20 years of hugely successful business at 83 Bussell Highway, Margaret River,
Gary, Lara, Joanne and David decided now was the time to make a move towards a lower
paced lifestyle. Early 2022 the property market in WA was humming so their beautiful
gallery premises went out to market. It sold within 2 weeks, and they negotiated
a 1 year lease so they could have one more celebratory year of trading, packing 
it full of exhibitions and events with a vision to “Go Out With a Bang”.

The closing of the gallery premises in June 2023 co-incided with the impending shut
down of the Native Hardwood logging industry at the end of 2024, With these factors
in mind JahRoc have never been busier with furniture orders booked in 2 years ahead.

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Janine-Daddo-Exhibition-
hanging-at-JahRoc-Galleries-9.jpg)

Janine Daddo Exhibition at JahRoc Galleries January 2023

## June 2023 – What is Next?

With current furnture orders booking into end 2025, Gary, Dave and Jagath are full
steam ahead in the workshop creating some incredible furniture designs.

With a large stockpile of spectacular timber, the team will continue to market online
and expect to work their way through their valuable slices of nature, bringing them
to life in the form of a piece of furniture so they can be treasured for generations
to come.

JahRoc Furniture will continue to take custom orders for the foreseeable future.
[Contact us](https://www.jahroc.com.au/contact-us) and place your order now.

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Family-Tree-Dining-
Table-Crotch-Wood-Marri-Tree-Log-Slab-after-sanding.jpg)

## October 2025 – Unsurpassed Property/Business Opportunity

After much pondering, soul-searching, and reliving wonderful memories, Gary and 
David decided to sadly exit the major part of their working life of nearly 40 years,
and are saying goodbye to their JahRoc workshop and studio property at 5702 Caves
Road, Burnside (Margaret River).

Consequently, their beautiful secluded bushland headquarters of 40 acres went up
for sale and when the right buyer came along it put in motion the daunting task 
of pulling apart their manufacturing home for a vacant hand-over in June 2026.

After completing the final customer furniture orders, the next mission was to get
everything ready for an on site auction, essentially pulling apart the working heart
of the JahRoc Furniture brand.

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/5702-Caves-Road-Burnside-
Property-For-Sale-15.jpg)

## May 2026 -JahRoc was acquired by Echo Marine Group

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Echo-Marine-Group-Logo.
jpg)

## The JahRoc Brand is moving…

Only 14 days out from the JahRoc Furniture workshop auction, with x350 lots already
packaged up and catalogued, the unexpected happened….

Mark Stothard of Echo Marine Group came to visit, and while there a concept was 
born… he could carry on the JahRoc Brand and run it alongside his thriving superyacht
business.

It didnt take long and the deal was drawn up.

x9 semi-truck loads later, and everything that was in the auction was picked up,
the IP was handed over, and JahRoc’s next chapter in a new home begins.

[Read the full story](https://www.jahroc.com.au/jahroc-has-been-acquired-by-echo-marine-group)

![](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Gary-Bennett-and-Mark-Stothard-
handshake-Deal-Done-2048x1536.jpg)

## June 2026 – Gary Bennett and David Paris say Goodbye

![Gary Bennett David Paris Of Jahroc Furniture](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/
uploads/2020/10/Gary-Bennett-David-Paris-of-JahRoc-Furniture.jpg)

This acquisition will see Gary Bennett and David Paris stepping out of their JahRoc
shoes, and saying goodbye to their incredibly successful business partnership of
40 years.

JahRoc Furniture as you have known it under the ownership of Gary and David is now
finished and Mark Stothard of Echo Marine Group will take it forward from here.

### Today, it could be said that Gary and David are surfing the ‘crest of a wave’.

## Keep In Touch

Keep in touch with the JahRoc team via social media, e-newsletters and of course
right here on their website.

[Sign up to our Newsletter](https://www.jahroc.com.au/newsletters)

[Follow Us On Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jahrocgalleries/)

[Follow Us On Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JahrocGalleries/)

[Follow Us On YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@JahRoc)