Page 76 - Australian House & Garden (January 2020)
P. 76
H G INSIDER
AUSTRALIA N STORY
ROBERT PLUMB
A GAP IN THE MARKET LED LANDSCAPER
WILLIAM DANGAR TO DESIGN HIS OWN
RANGE OF OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES.
oday, Robert appropriate staff. “We
Plumb is one wanted people who would
of Australia’s roll up their sleeves and get
best-loved outdoor on with the job,” he says.
Tfurniture and As well as letterboxes, the
garden accessory brands. It’s Robert Plumb range now
a far cry from the company’s includes planters and pots,
humble beginnings. lighting, household objects
While working as the and an extensive array of
garden editor at Belle garden furniture and
magazine in the mid-s, accessories. “I am most
leading landscape designer proud of the fi repits and
Willliam Dangar (above) was letterboxes,” says William.
briefed to pull together “These products created
a feature on letterboxes. new sectors in the market –
“To my surprise, there was years ago, ready-made
nothing of real merit on the fi repits were nonexistent.
market, so I designed some Ours are still the best among
myself,” he says. The furniture the dozens available.”
came later. “As a landscape All of the company’s
designer, I see fi rsthand what timber pieces are produced
clients need and have a good in its own Sydney factory.
understanding of how brutal Many ceramic pots are made
the Australian climate can by Cameron Williams on
be. Our designs are simple, the NSW South Coast. Metal
functional and high quality, products are fabricated in
crafted from solid New southern China.
Guinea rosewood and And the name? “Robert
stainless steel.” Plumb is derived from plumb
William says the birth of “ To my surprise, there were no letterboxes of real bob, a building tool that has
Robert Plumb was somewhat merit on the market so I designed some myself.” been around for centuries,” Photography by Prue Ruscoe.
complicated. The challenges says William. “We get quite
ranged from startup costs CLOCKWISE F
OM TOP LEFT Wiim Dnr, the a few customers asking to
to fund stock, warehouses re obert Pumb. Koto, Sinde nd Porto ots. speak to Robert!”
and a website, to fi nding ibbon chise. Scissor tbe with Emu chirs. robertplumb.com.au >
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