The entryway to Ironbark Re-engineered in North Canterbury, made of steel-capped piles, which once held up the wharves at Lyttelton. They were removed after the Canterbury quakes. Photo / RNZ, Mark Leishman
The entryway to Ironbark Re-engineered in North Canterbury, made of steel-capped piles, which once held up the wharves at Lyttelton. They were removed after the Canterbury quakes. Photo / RNZ, Mark Leishman
By RNZ
Steve Evans is a man who loves old wood and just can’t bear the thought of seeing it end up in a landfill, or being chucked on a fire.
Much of the stock he sells at Ironbark Re-engineered in North Canterbury came from the Lyttelton wharves, which wereremoved after being damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes.
He’s not buying any more, though, as he says he has enough to last a lifetime - or two.
“I need another lifetime to get through everything that I’ve got here.
“And I think that worries my son, who thinks he’s gonna have to move in here and deal to it.”
Evans has had quite an adventurous life - baking pies, professional hunter and fisherman, jumping out of helicopters for deer recovery, running a helicopter business, working in forestry and firewood, which led to discovering ironbark.
“It’s actually an Australian hardwood,” Evans explained.
“Most people don’t really know what it is, but it’s one of the Eucalyptus species.
“Most people know what jarrah is, and ironbark is like it, but actually a lot harder than what jarrah is.”
Ironbark is exceptionally strong, making it suitable for high-traffic areas and structures like bridges and wharves.
It ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown and is highly resistant to moisture, insects and decay.
The thick bark also protects the trees from fire.
Ironbark is still being imported from Australia and is used for wharves and cladding, flooring, decking, internal beams and rafters.
However, it doesn’t have the aged look of Evans’ wood, which ends up as internal beams and rafters in new holiday homes and is a particular rustic look that suits wineries and more high-end stuff.
Ironbark is an exceptionally strong Australian hardwood, making it suitable for high-traffic areas and structures such as bridges and wharves. Photo / RNZ, Mark Leishman
So when the tourists arrive, the buildings look like they’ve been there for 100 years, even though they may have been there for two.
The Oxford property is on part of a former railway line and is guarded by Evans’ little rough-coated Jack Russell, Sue.
