Jarrah End Grain Blocks from 1920s Kingston Printing Factory

October 20, 2024 Ellie Keft

October 2024

If you’re looking for something special to add to your home—something that’s full of local Canberran history—why not try our Jarrah end grain blocks for some striking and timeless parquetry flooring? We salvaged these blocks back in 2018, from the factory floor of the 1920s Government Print Factory on Wentworth Avenue in Kingston. Now there are just three pallets left with your name on them!

Each block, measuring 90 x 41 x 55mm, has been thoroughly cleaned, de-nailed, and docked, and are stacked up on pallets ready for delivery and installation.

Jarrah end grain is super tough—it was traditionally used in factories because it can handle a lot of wear and tear from machines and high foot traffic. The intricate end grain pattern not only adds visual interest but also ensures the surface remains durable.

We’d love to see them used to create an eye-catching feature in someone’s home; a mud room or a sunken lounge perhaps?

Only Three Pallets Left

We have a sample section of the blocks available to view in our showroom, assembled as flooring and finished with Osmo Hardwax Oil so that you can see what they would look like in your space.

Interested? Reach out now before these last pallets are gone!

Jarrah sample, from 1920s Government Printing Office in Kingston

A Piece of Canberra’s History… in Your Home

Originally laid in the Government Print Factory, the flooring we salvaged carries with it a story of Canberra’s industrial past. Built in the 1920s, the factory was a hub of activity, with Linotype machines—used to cast entire lines of type for printing—working away to produce essential government documents. These machines were cutting-edge at the time, streamlining the printing process.

Imagine the very blocks that once absorbed the vibrations of powerful machines, where countless government documents were printed, now becoming part of your home. Timber like this is more than just a material—it’s a piece of history you can walk on and reflect upon every day.