John StreaterFine Furniture

[Journal]

Stories from the workshop, and the country around it.

Notes from the bench, the region around it, and the artists whose work hangs in the gallery. Forty-plus years of it.

Inside the Yallingup workshop: a sander in the foreground, timber rack and machinery behind, morning light through the translucent corrugated roof

Featured · Essays

Forty Years on Blythe Rd: A Reflection on Place, Craft, and Home

*One block of land, one workshop, one wife, one beach. A long answer to the only question that matters.*

22 April 2026 · 9 min read

Detail of John Streater's inlaid gum-leaf signature in jarrah

[Timber]

22 April 2026

Jarrah, Marri, Tuart — A Buyer's Guide to Western Australian Timbers

Modern art paintings displayed in a gallery hall

[Region]

8 April 2026

A Maker's Guide to the Galleries of Margaret River

Modern wooden sauna with stone heater (luxury spa retreat)

[Region]

17 February 2026

Staying at Injidup Spa Retreat? 48-Hour Itinerary

Smiths Beach Yallingup with turquoise water and white sand

[Region]

13 January 2026

Staying at Smiths Beach Resort? Local-Only Stops

Canal Rocks granite channels, Yallingup

[Region]

11 November 2025

Rock Pools of the Margaret River Region

Yallingup Beach with calm lagoon water and limestone headland

[Region]

9 October 2025

Farm Stays Near Margaret River: What Families Need to Know

Aerial view of green hedge maze

[Region]

16 September 2025

Yallingup Maze + Family Lunch Loop

Yallingup lagoon (Yallingup Marine Protected Area)

[Region]

19 August 2025

The Hidden Yallingup: 7 Places Locals Don't Tell Tourists

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park coastline near Yallingup

[Region]

5 August 2025

Best Photography Spots Within 30 Minutes of Yallingup

Cafe counter with pastries and coffee bags

[Region]

15 July 2025

Best Coffee Between Busselton and Augusta

Ngilgi Cave interior (limestone formations)

[Region]

1 July 2025

Margaret River Caves with Kids: Which Are Worth It?

Harbor with shipping containers and cranes

[Workshop]

17 June 2025

Shipping Australian Furniture Internationally: How It Works

Hay Shed Hill Winery in Margaret River, summer vines and cellar door

[Gallery]

3 June 2025

What's On in Margaret River This Month

The Yallingup coastline that frames the region's gallery route

[Gallery]

6 May 2025

Margaret River for Collectors: A 2-Day Art and Craft Itinerary

Aerial sunset over a Yallingup-like coast

[Region]

15 April 2025

Surf Trip to Yallingup: Where to Surf, Sleep, Eat (and a Rest-Day Detour)

Meelup Beach, Western Australia (Dunsborough)

[Region]

1 April 2025

Things to Do in Dunsborough That Aren't a Winery

Workshop interior with tools hanging on the wall (artisan studio)

[Gallery]

18 March 2025

Why the Margaret River Region Has Such a Concentrated Artist Community

Rustic woodfired sourdough loaves with crackled crusts on a wooden board

[Region]

11 March 2025

Yallingup Woodfired Bread: Why I Don't Leave It Until Saturday Lunchtime

Art gallery interior with paintings on a white wall

[Gallery]

4 March 2025

Yallingup Art Trail

Boranup karri forest panorama in the Margaret River region

[Timber]

11 February 2025

Caring for Jarrah and Marri Furniture in an Australian Home

Busselton Jetty at sunrise (major South West stop)

[Region]

28 January 2025

Driving from Perth to Margaret River: 5 Stops Worth Pulling Over For

Watershed Vineyard, Margaret River

[Region]

14 January 2025

Voyager Estate: Before and After

Yallingup Beach, Margaret River region

[Region]

3 December 2024

School Holidays in Yallingup: Parent-Tested 5-Day Plan

Busselton Jetty, Western Australia

[Region]

19 November 2024

Day Trip from Busselton to Yallingup

Man using a circular saw in workshop (handmade craft)

[Timber]

5 November 2024

The Real Margaret River Souvenir: Beyond Fudge and Magnets

Woodworker hands working in a woodworking shop (handcrafted goods)

[Timber]

22 October 2024

What to Buy as a Souvenir of Margaret River (That Isn't Wine or Chocolate)

Gralyn Winery vineyard, Margaret River

[Region]

8 October 2024

After Vasse Felix Lunch: Three Routes

Yallingup Beach, Margaret River region

[Region]

24 September 2024

Margaret River with Kids: 12 Stops

Gralyn Winery, Margaret River

[Region]

10 September 2024

Pair'd Margaret River 2026 (19–22 Nov): The Art and Craft Side

Margaret River Surfers Point during Drug Aware Pro surf competition

[Region]

20 August 2024

Margaret River Pro: Rest Day Guide

Busselton Jetty aerial view, the foreshore where The Goose sits

[Region]

18 August 2024

The Goose, Busselton: One of My Favourites

Margaret River coastline (Indian Ocean view)

[Region]

6 August 2024

Anniversary Weekend in the Margaret River Region

Duckstein Brewery at Saracen Estates, Wilyabrup — the architectural brewery in the Margaret River region

[Region]

30 July 2024

Craft Beer in the Region: A Self-Drive Brewery Route

Canal Rocks granite and turquoise pools near Yallingup (sister site to Injidup)

[Region]

23 July 2024

Injidup Natural Spa: How to Find It

Yallingup Beach panorama, Western Australia

[Region]

9 July 2024

Half-Day in Yallingup: Three Itineraries for Three Moods

Panorama of Dunsborough Beach and Dunn Bay

[Region]

25 June 2024

Dunsborough Day Trip From Yallingup

Aged jarrah picket fence (c.1930s) showing decades of patina

[Timber]

11 June 2024

How Solid Timber Furniture Ages: 30 Years of Jarrah, in Photographs

Light-filled WA cellar door tasting room (Talisman Wines, Geographe region)

[Region]

29 May 2024

Margaret River Cellar Doors with the Best Food

Northern end of the Cape to Cape Track, October 2023

[Region]

14 May 2024

Cape to Cape Track: Where Walkers, Whales and Galleries Meet

Smiths Beach at Yallingup with white sand and turquoise water

[Region]

30 April 2024

Margaret River on a Budget: 12 Free or Cheap Things to Do

Yallingup storm and seagulls

[Region]

15 April 2024

Rainy Day in Yallingup or Dunsborough? The Indoor Itinerary

Display cabinets in a regional WA gallery

[Gallery]

2 April 2024

Best Galleries in the Margaret River Region: A Maker's Honest Review

Karri trees in Boranup Forest, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

[Region]

18 March 2024

Boranup Karri Forest Day Loop With a Yallingup Finish

Busselton Jetty at sunrise with calm water and pink sky

[Region]

14 March 2024

Where to Stay in Busselton: A Local's Honest Take

Man sanding a wooden plank in a workshop (bespoke craft)

[Timber]

27 February 2024

What Is Bespoke Furniture? A Plain-English Guide

Eagle Bay, Western Australia — the coast that frames the brewery day

[Region]

13 February 2024

Eagle Bay Brewery Day

Woodworking tools hanging on a workshop wall (artisan craft)

[Timber]

31 January 2024

A Buyer's Guide to Bringing Home a Piece of Margaret River

Hay Shed Hill Winery, Margaret River

[Region]

15 January 2024

A Full-Day Margaret River Wine Tour From Yallingup

Eagle Bay coast at sunrise near Dunsborough

[Region]

9 January 2024

Where to Stay in Dunsborough

Finished jarrah wine rack showing the deep red-brown grain

[Timber]

28 December 2023

Australian Jarrah Furniture: Where to See and Buy It in WA

Couple on a coastal cliff

[Region]

20 December 2023

Planning a Yallingup Wedding

Watershed vineyard, Margaret River

[Region]

14 December 2023

A Wine Lover's Week

Hay Shed Hill Winery, Margaret River

[Region]

1 December 2023

Foodies in Yallingup: A 48-Hour Eating Itinerary

Margaret River cellar door entrance, similar low-key Caves Road feel to Swings & Roundabouts

[Region]

22 November 2023

Swings & Roundabouts

Karri forest from Gloucester Tree Tower (tall karri trees on the scenic Caves Road region)

[Region]

16 November 2023

Yallingup to Margaret River Town: The Scenic Route With 8 Stops

Yallingup Beach with pale sand, turquoise water and granite reef

[Region]

7 November 2023

Yallingup with Kids: 9 Family-Friendly Things to Do

The Margaret River Chocolate Company, Metricup

[Region]

17 October 2023

Margaret River Chocolate Company: Worth It? (And 6 More Stops Within 20 Minutes)

Cape to Cape track south of Margaret River — the coast the town belongs to

[Region]

4 October 2023

Things to Do in Margaret River Town

Two arched jarrah dining tables on the gallery floor

[Gallery]

28 September 2023

The Yallingup Gallery Crawl: A Self-Drive Route

Humpback whale breaching

[Region]

12 September 2023

Whale Watching Season: September in the South West

Busselton Jetty from above, stretching nearly two kilometres into Geographe Bay

[Region]

13 August 2023

Things to Do in Busselton

Pink coastal banjine wildflowers at Sugarloaf Rock, Cape Naturaliste

[Region]

3 August 2023

Margaret River in Spring: Wildflowers, Whales, and Quiet Roads

Smiths Beach Yallingup — the morning swim that anchors a one-day trip

[Region]

19 July 2023

The Margaret River in 24 Hours: A Speed-Run Itinerary

Yallingup Reef at the western end of Yallingup Beach, where the Aquarium sits

[Region]

5 July 2023

The Aquarium Yallingup

Woodworker using circular saw in workshop

[Workshop]

6 June 2023

A Day in the Workshop: How a Dining Table Is Built From Tree to Table

Small cabin nestled among vineyard rows — the kind of vineyard accommodation Margaret River does well

[Region]

3 June 2023

Margaret River Accommodation: A Local's Complete Guide

Group of visitors tasting wine among barrels at a winery — the kind of stop a tour or a self-drive day both end up making

[Region]

27 May 2023

Margaret River Winery Tours: Guided vs Self-Drive

Sunset at Canal Rocks, Yallingup

[Region]

17 May 2023

Yallingup Sunset: Canal Rocks, Sugarloaf Rock, or Smiths Beach?

Yallingup coastline with storm clouds and gulls

[Region]

4 April 2023

The Quiet Magic of Yallingup in Winter

Tall green hedge maze viewed from above with winding paths

[Region]

3 April 2023

The Yallingup Maze: What I Tell People Who Ask

Meelup Beach looking towards Geographe Bay, Western Australia

[Region]

22 March 2023

Yallingup Beach Hopping: 6 Beaches Within 20 Minutes, Ranked

Busselton Jetty at sunrise reflecting on calm water

[Region]

14 March 2023

Margaret River Winery Accommodation: Stay Between the Cellar Doors

Candlelit restaurant table set with wine glasses — the kind of evening dining the Dunsborough strip does well

[Region]

11 March 2023

Best Restaurants in Dunsborough

Dunsborough town centre, low buildings and a wide main street

[Region]

25 February 2023

Things to Do in Dunsborough

Vasse Felix winery with vines in foreground, Margaret River

[Region]

19 February 2023

Margaret River Winery Map: Plan Your Own Self-Drive Tour

Sugarloaf Rock at sunset near Yallingup

[Region]

9 February 2023

Yallingup for Couples: A Romantic Weekend

Clear turquoise water and granite headlands at Meelup Beach

[Region]

21 January 2023

Dunsborough Beach: Meelup, Eagle Bay, and the Town Beach Compared

Smiths Beach, Yallingup, on a clear morning

[Region]

11 January 2023

The Perfect Yallingup Weekend: 48-Hour Itinerary

Caves Road at Mammoth Cave, Boranup

[Region]

14 December 2022

The Caves Road Drive: Every Stop Worth Making

Smiths Beach in Yallingup on a clear summer morning

[Region]

26 November 2022

Margaret River Summer: How to Avoid the Crowds

Cape to Cape track and the country around Cowaramup and the Margaret River region

[Region]

22 November 2022

Things to Do in Cowaramup

Handcrafted wooden cutting/serving board on a timber surface

[Timber]

8 November 2022

Wedding, Anniversary, and Retirement Gifts That Last a Lifetime

View from Cape Naturaliste across the southwest coast

[Region]

16 October 2022

The Best of Margaret River: A Local's Definitive List

Humpback whale breaching

[Region]

15 October 2022

Whale Watching Near Yallingup

Open art pottery studio interior

[Gallery]

7 September 2022

Where to See Australian Craft in Margaret River Open Studios (Sept 2026)

Yallingup coastline with limestone cliffs and turquoise water

[Region]

4 September 2022

Camping and Caravan Parks in the Margaret River Region

Yallingup coastline at golden hour with limestone outcrops and turquoise water

[Region]

9 August 2022

Where to Stay in Yallingup: A Local's Honest Guide to the Accommodation

Smiths Beach, Yallingup, early morning

[Region]

3 August 2022

The Yallingup Art-Lover's Weekend: A 2-Day Itinerary

Yallingup Beach with the lagoon at the northern end behind the reef

[Region]

2 August 2022

The Yallingup Lagoon

Karri trees in Boranup Forest, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

[Timber]

14 July 2022

Five WA Hardwoods Every Furniture Buyer Should Know

Hand plane curling shavings off a timber board — the bespoke-making process

[Timber]

21 June 2022

How to Commission a Custom Dining Table in WA: Step-by-Step

Yallingup Beach with reef break and morning light

[Region]

7 June 2022

Reading the Yallingup Surf Cam: A Local's Morning Habit

Inside Mammoth Cave near Margaret River with limestone formations

[Region]

7 May 2022

Margaret River Caves Compared: Ngilgi, Mammoth, Lake, Jewel

Stormy winter day at Yallingup with gulls and dark Indian Ocean swell

[Region]

12 April 2022

Margaret River in Winter

Eagle Bay at sunrise — the kind of light that pays back an early start in autumn

[Region]

30 March 2022

Best Time to Visit Margaret River

Smiths Beach near Yallingup, looking south toward Injidup

[Region]

8 March 2022

Margaret River Beaches: The Complete Region Guide

Hay Shed Hill winery vineyards, Margaret River

[Region]

5 March 2022

Wineries Near Yallingup: A Local's Guide to the Best Five

Vasse Felix winery building in vineyard setting under blue sky

[Gallery]

27 February 2022

The Farmers Market on a Saturday Morning

Mixed jarrah and marri forest, Blackwood State Forest WA

[Timber]

9 February 2022

Jarrah vs Marri: Which WA Hardwood for Heirloom Furniture?

Moody storm-front sweeping a southwest beach

[Region]

18 January 2022

Things to Do in Yallingup When It's Raining

Northern end of the Cape to Cape Track winding along coastal heath

[Region]

28 December 2021

Cape to Cape Track Day Sections Near Yallingup

Busselton Jetty at sunrise

[Region]

11 December 2021

Busselton Jetty Day Trip: What to Do Before and After

Inside Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup

[Region]

3 November 2021

Visiting Ngilgi Cave? Here's the Perfect Yallingup Half-Day

Sugarloaf Rock at sunset, Western Australia

[Region]

22 October 2021

Sugarloaf Rock at Sunset: Everything You Need to Know

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, the iconic white tower

[Region]

14 September 2021

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse: A Complete Visitor's Guide

Yallingup coastline with pale sand, turquoise water and granite reef

[Region]

14 September 2021

Things to Do in Yallingup: A Local's Guide After Forty Years

Sunset at Canal Rocks, Yallingup, February 2021

[Region]

5 August 2021

Canal Rocks Sunset: The Complete Guide

Smiths Beach looking south toward Injidup

[Region]

17 July 2021

Smiths Beach Yallingup: Everything to Know

Yallingup Beach from the north

[Region]

22 May 2021

Yallingup Beach: The Local's Guide

Woodworker shaping a piece of timber in a workshop

[Essays]

14 April 2021

Meet the Maker: What 40+ Years of WA Hardwoods Has Taught John Streater

Better still — come down Blythe Road and see the work.

Plan your visit →