Local Timber, Lasting Design: Araucaria at K’gari’s Kingfisher Bay

10 November 2025

 • 

1 min read

banner
In 1992, Kingfisher Bay Resort on K’gari (Fraser Island) took a bold step: a sweeping curved ceiling finished in Araucaria (hoop pine). Thirty-three years on, it still turns heads—and it still performs.

The appeal isn’t just aesthetic. This ceiling is a case study in low-impact, high-longevity design. The timber was sourced from sustainable plantations in the Mary Valley, roughly 100 km away. Short supply chain. Fewer transport miles. Materials that align with the landscape they serve.

Hoop pine brings a fine, consistent grain that takes finish well and stays stable—ideal for large, curved interior surfaces in a coastal setting. Three decades of salt air, humidity, and heavy visitor traffic have tested it; the ceiling has passed without drama.

If you’re specifying for hospitality or public spaces, this project makes the point clearly: choose local, renewable materials and detail them properly. Good design and responsible timber don’t just look good on day one—they age well, with nothing to hide.