The Timber and the Truth: Kevin Ahearn’s Quiet Legacy

Tucked away in the folds of Pine Mountain, there’s a man whose life has been shaped not just by timber—but by the stories that live within it. Kevin Ahearn is more than a woodworker. He is a historian of hands and heart, a craftsman of memory, and a salvager of both timber and tales.

His story begins, in part, with a scent, probably why we both align!

"I was about nine years old when I first smelled fresh cut timber," Kevin recalls. "My grandfather was cutting ironbark fence posts at his farm in Rosevale." That smell—sharp, earthy, unforgettable—vanished from memory for decades until, during a clay modelling course in his 40s, the scent returned as others in the class carved wood. "Suddenly the memories came rushing back. That was it. I was hooked."

But his journey into timber wasn’t just born from nostalgia. It came from need. After a serious work injury, Kevin was searching for healing—physically and emotionally. Wood became therapy. Purpose. A way forward.

"I couldn’t afford cedar or beech," he laughs. "So I got a salvage licence and went into the ranges near Killarney in an old HQ ute." The land had been logged decades before, but what was left behind—the discarded, the overlooked—became Kevin’s treasure. Rose mahogany was his favourite: the colour, the grain, the scent.

It was on one of those drives, heading home over Spring Creek Mountain, that Kevin met Harold Godwin, a farmer cutting firewood. Kevin soon gained permission to salvage timber from the land—what followed was over 45 years of respectful, ethical collecting. Kevin never felled a living tree. Everything he’s made has come from what others left behind.

And it wasn’t long before the timber started speaking to him—not literally, but through the stories of the people who once worked it.

"I’d meet old timber getters—some of the last of their kind. Their stories were vanishing. I felt like someone had to write them down."

That decision led to a daunting project: hand-writing and self-publishing books about Queensland’s timber pioneers. With no computer skills, and while living with ADHD and dyslexia, Kevin threw himself into the work. Hours in the State Library, phone calls, letters, long road trips, and handwritten interviews became the foundation of his first book: From Crosscut to Chainsaw.

It took seven years.

"Once I start something, I can’t stop," he admits. "It’s part of my head. Good and bad."

Kevin has captured stories that would’ve been lost to time. Like Jack Hayes, who he interviewed in a hospital just before Jack passed away. "He was so happy someone took an interest in his life," Kevin says. Or Harold Godwin himself—who had migrated alone at age 15 and later fought behind enemy lines in WWII. Kevin also arranged for Ralph Affleck’s story to be told on national television. While Kevin never appeared himself, he was the reason Ralph's story became one of Landline’s most watched segments.

The humour in his stories is just as rich as the history:

George Sirret, a lifelong bullock driver like his father, once took his team to Holt’s paddock in Mt Crosby to give children from Brisbane a firsthand look at how things were done in the old days. The children learned a few unexpected words that day, but it was George’s dry wit that truly left a mark. When a curious child asked if he was married, George replied, "I was once." The child asked, "What happened to her?" Without missing a beat, George answered, "She told me to choose between her or the bullocks. I still got my bullocks!" Teachers scrambled to explain the remark, but the laughter lingered.

Norm Stimpson’s father, Joe, owned the first car in the Maidenwell district—but couldn’t drive. Determined to teach himself, he practised in their paddocks. One day, forgetting to brake, he drove straight through the back wall of the shed. His sons, recognising a pattern, began stacking hay bales at the end of the shed to soften future crashes. From then on, Joe would arrive home shouting "Whoa, whoa!" like his bullocks, but more often than not, he forgot to brake—and into the hay he went. The shed was patched up more times than they could count.

Once a Bullockies Dream - all carved from Timber

Kevin’s work isn’t just nostalgic—it’s tactile. His carvings are found in homes across the world, from London to America to Marburg. One lives in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Another—a saint—rests in a local church. One of his most surprising commissions came from nurses at St Andrew’s Hospital, who asked him to carve a range of Gynaecological tools in red cedar as a gift for a retiring obstetrician.

In recognition of his work, Kevin was awarded the prestigious Dame Mary Durack Outback Craft Award—a rare and fitting honour for someone who has given so much to preserve the spirit of regional Australia.

Today, Kevin remains humble. He hopes people find joy in his work. That maybe they’re inspired to create something themselves. And above all, that we don’t forget where we came from.

"There were families here before us," he says. "Kids like yours, living happily in their little worlds."

Beetle Bug Curious Art

I am beyond excited to introduce Beetle Bug Curious Art to Trevallan! Her breathtaking pieces have already found homes with so many of you, and I couldn’t be happier to have her work gracing our shelves.

Our journey together began in July 2023, when she first walked through Trevallan’s doors, bringing with her a collection of pieces that immediately captivated me. There was something special in her work—something that spoke not just to aesthetics, but to emotion, storytelling, and connection.

Beetle Bug Curious Art isn’t just about taxidermy—it’s about storytelling. She breathes life into her craft, transforming insects into exquisite works of art that go beyond being "just a butterfly in a frame." Each piece is a statement, a conversation starter, and a tribute to the intricate beauty of nature. When I first saw her work, I immediately understood its depth—it wasn’t just visually stunning, but emotionally evocative. Her art invites curiosity, wonder, and a newfound appreciation for the delicate balance of life, making each creation more than just décor—it’s a reflection of something deeper within us.

When you purchase one of her creations, you’re backing two small businesses—hers and ours. More than that, you’re bringing home something truly unique, something meaningful.

Which piece speaks to you?

You don’t have to be a collector to fall in love with art. Sometimes, you just know when a piece is meant for you.

ARK & C WoodWorks

ARK & C’s motto is to "make timeless woodcarvings and sculptures from rare recycled timbers."

Each piece is crafted with love and is truly unique, with its own story to tell. Kevin can share the history of the timber, including the age of the tree, where it was logged (or found fallen), how he acquired it, and the inspiration behind its use.

Kevin's interest in the history of the ranges was sparked when he first began wood carving many years ago. While searching for suitable timber, he became aware of the hardships and challenges faced by the early timber getters and settlers.

Determined to learn more about these pioneers, Kevin reached out to as many of their descendants as possible over the years.

This rich history is captured in Kevin’s three books, which are filled with family stories and documented history. The first timber men sought the most valuable timber from the highest mountains to the steepest valleys, and Kevin has diligently recorded their stories for future generations to appreciate. His third book, "Slab Hut and Split Rail Fence," details the history of Rosevale, Mt Walker, and the first Irish families. This book is particularly dear to me, as my family, the Jensens, were among the first Danish settlers in Rosevale, and my great grandfather’s family is mentioned throughout.

When Kevin brings a new piece into the store I can’t help but write a love letter about them. I enjoy the feel and the emotions every piece evokes in me. If you are wanting to buy a piece of history, something that you can turn into a family heirloom then Kevin’s pieces are you.

All Kevin’s pieces are aviable instore you can see them via our Facebook Page or under Meet the Maker in our shop

Handmade Upcycled Rugs and Planters

I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many talented people.

People who can see something useless and a little bit ugly and turn it into a work of art.

A useable piece of art.

Karen our lovely local artisan makes, weaves or crochets, mats, bags, planters, wall art out of old sheets and doona covers... recycling them and making them new again.

As all pieces are made from cotton recycled sheets they are machine washable! I know you love them even more now don't you? We have so many of Karen's pieces in stock, she really has an amazing eye for colour and I can't believe the combos she comes up with.

I have two of Karen’s mats at home, one at the back door and one at the front. You can imagine they get pretty dirty. Every week I throw them in the wash, hang them out to dry and boom back they go into place.

So many of you already own one of Karen's lovely pieces and I have seen them on bathroom floors, kitchen floors and Living room walls. Really how could you not fall in love?

Colours and styles are all one offs. Its time to own your own piece of art ..

Karen isn't on social media, Trevallan is the only place you can get a piece of her talent!

Check out her rugs here

Check out her planters here

Art Before Housework

A Chance Encounter is the Art Before Housework Pointillism art piece I have at home.

I have loved Art Before Housework for years but I never connected the dots... I was actually gifted one of her original pointillism (lots of tiny dots) arts years ago, before I met her in person, and it hangs pride of place in my kitchen, where I smile at it all morning.

Andrea Baumert Howard, is an artist living and working in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She says her art comes from a physical need to create.  She has always loved drawing and doing crafty projects which usually ended up as gifts for friends and family or decorating her home.

She mentions that doing crafty projects helped her out of some dark times in the past and has been a way of positive meditation.

In 2010 Andrea began taking her art seriously after illustrating a children’s book for the charity Local Adoption Support Group.  “Run Like the Wind – how Brik found his family”

Since 2010 she has exhibited extensively both locally in Ipswich and in Brisbane and has won several awards.

Example of Art Before Housework’s Gift Cards

Her style is still evolving and she enjoys using different mediums – different images work better in certain mediums.  

About four years ago she started working with recycled paper that she had made from dyed office paper and junk mail. She then puts prints of her original pointillism drawings and watercolour art on her handmade recycled paper and sells them as A4 artworks or cards. The cards are so special I have a few of them framed at home.

Art before Housework's art comes from a physical need to create.

She prefers to do Art Before Housework!

So come on in or head over to our shop and get yourself one of these beauties so you can smile every morning at her artwork too!

Dimensional Healing and Alignment

We have been stocking Dimensional Healing’s range of products for a little while and I am still in love with them.

Lorelle, Dimensional Healing, is an intuitive healer and creative who has been a Reiki Master/Teacher for over 15 years and is experienced in a variety of energy modalities. Energy is her thing!

Chakra balancing, energy clearing, running energy through your aura, teaching meditation and sway are all ways she helps her clients dump old emotional energy and return to being them.

She knows that we all struggle a little with emotional healing so she has developed some quick and easy ways we can all connect to our true selves every day. If you would like a personalised piece of jewellery or an Enery RE Set you can book with Lorelle here

AURA SPRAYS

These body sprays were created to help us with our daily intentions and as an added bonus they smell delicious. The Aura Sprays are infused with intentional Reiki, essential oils and crystal essences. I can't wait for you to come in and try them! While these sprays were created to help you along your day I have completely fallen in love with Bold Woman and it’s now part of my morning ritual… meaning it’s replaced my normal perfume! I spray it over myself and I feel more ready to tackle the world plus I smell gloriously nice.

These sprays can be used like I do as part of a morning ritual or they can sit on your desk and help you through your day. Buy her sprays in our shop

INTENTIONAL CRYSTAL JEWELLERY

Intentional jewellery pieces that can be worn not just because they are pretty but to bring in particular intentional energy that will hopefully help reset your energy system to make way for new beginnings.

Sometimes all we need is a little nudge in the direction we need to take and these jewellery pieces are there to help and remind us of our paths.

SOUL CONNECTION ORACLE CARDS

You can use the Soul Connection cards for daily guidance, word of the day, affirmation to journal with and so much more. They can be a fun tool or used as a personal growth tool.

MYSTIC GARDEN and WORKSHOPS

Dimensional Healing also holds space in Mystic Garden and facilitates some of our Wellness and Craft Workshops.

Lorelle is an intuitive healer who has been a Reiki Master/Teacher for over 15 years and is experienced in a variety of energy modalities. Energy is her thing!

Chakra balancing, energy clearing, running energy through your aura, teaching meditation and sway are all ways she helps her clients dump old emotional energy and return to being them. Sometimes though we ask ourselves who are we, really?

During our lives we adopt and absorb various emotions and beliefs because of influences from our surroundings. We keep adapting ourselves to fit in. Lorelle can help you find your true self and in turn your soul calling.

Human Design, it's like a merging between astrology and personality tests. But there's no questions, just your birth details. Your Human Design reading is like your energetic blueprint and from that we can see where your natural energy flows.

The blueprint shows your strengths and wisdom and your potential purpose in this lifetime. It also points to the main challenges you need to be aware of.

Lorelle is here to help you clear the gunk and find your true North. You can contact her here for a reading or to book an in person session

Beaded Chandeliers and Gourds

Sharon walked into the shop one day, jeans, boots and work shirt. She looked like she’d rode into town on her horse. I soon found out she’d been out working her horses all that morning. She tentatively asked if I’d like to see some of her work, she described them as hanging ornaments…. what she showed me blew me away.

Beaded Chandeliers was a more adapt description. Made from recycled necklaces and special beads. Each piece handmade and designed even the wrought iron holders were made by Sharon’s friend especially for her chandeliers.

These Chandeliers are so hard to photographer so I can’t ever really show you the true beauty of them but here is a little video of them … I have mine situated near a lamp and at night I love watching the shadows play on my walls.