Beaches Timber, Ingleside: Pioneering timber mill owner Josh Clark transforming waste wood into “gold”

A timber mill in the heart of the northern beaches — with a 400-tonne pile of logs from local backyards — is a pioneer in the transformation of waste wood into valuable lumber products.

The Beaches Timber has a 400-tonne pile of logs, felled by local tree loppers, in its timber mill at Ingleside. Picture: Beaches Timber

A little-known timber mill in the heart of the northern beaches is pioneering a process to turn waste trees, chopped down from local backyards, into valuable products – instead of being fed to the woodchipper.

When tree loppers fell a big spotted gum or ironbark, the wood often just ends up as mulch.

But now Josh Clark, and his Beaches Timber business at Ingleside, can transform those trees into stunning hardwood slabs and structural timber that can be used for building decks and pergolas, as well as furniture like dining tables, bathroom vanities and kitchen bench tops.

Mr Clark, a carpenter who describes himself as a “passionate timber lover”, said he started the business because he didn’t want to see such a valuable resource go to waste.

The founder and owner of Beaches Timber at Ingleside, Josh Clark (right), with senior saw mill operator Ben McCreery. Picture: Beaches Timber

The property regularly has a 400 tonne pile of logs that have come from tree lopping operations across the northern beaches and north shore, ready to be milled.

Mr Clark, 30, who grew up at Narrabeen, said the lumber at his timber yard only comes from purposefully felled trees.

“We collect trees that are being felled in the surrounding area, and we create beautiful pieces of timber out of something that would have gone to green waste.

The Beaches Timber mill at Ingleside makes the most out of wood that would usually end up as mulch. Picture: Beaches Timber

“We realise the reality that timber is in high demand and short supply.

“It keeps the trees guys happy. It’s a lot of extra work for them to chip up a tree.

“It’s kind of a win, win for everybody.”

The business even has a portable saw mill that it can bring to people’s backyards to create timber that can be repurposed.

The Beaches Timber mill produces timber slabs that can be used for a variety of purposes. Picture: Beaches Timber

Boards that were used for a wooden jetty that were produced by Beaches Timber at Ingleside. Picture: Beaches Timber

“People are stoked that they get to see that the timber from their own tree can be reused.

“We understand that every tree has a long heritage, a story and a beauty.

“We want to give dignity to this tree. It is saved from the woodchipper and given a new lease of life as a beautiful piece of timber. It lives on as something new and revitalised.”

Timber used for this decorative piece was produced by Beaches Timber at Ingleside. Picture: Beaches Timber

Timber used for fence railings was produced by Beaches Timber at Ingleside. Picture: Beaches Timber

Beaches Timber even has its own timber slab showroom at Warriewood — visits by appointment — where customers can check out timber from trees species including Spotted Gum, Sydney blue gum, Blackbutt and Ironbark as well as “exotics” such as Norfolk Island pine and Camphor Laurel.

Josh Clark, the owner of the Beaches Timber mill at Ingleside, gets all sorts of logs into his timber yard at Ingleside, which can be transformed into valuable products. Picture: Beaches Timber

Timber that other mills might consider as offcuts, Mr Clark and his team try to turn into useful products like stair treads, dowels or firewood — nothing goes to waste.

“I was always the kid going around and getting stuff off the local council clean-ups,” Mr Clark said.

“It was like one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it sort of flowed from that.

“The timber is rubbish to some, but it’s absolute gold to me.”

Mr Clark has plans to buy land and establish a plantation timber model.

“You could use the forest almost as a garden, taking a bit from it, but it keeps regrowing.”