Meyer Timber: family-owned and focused on quality
FWPA are proud to highlight the important work our members are doing across Australia to support and advance the forest and wood products industry.
In this profile we explore one of Australia’s largest timber wholesale operations, Meyer Timber, a family-owned and operated business since 1975.
With a strong emphasis on customer service instilled by founders Mel and Marilyn Meyer, Meyer Timber stocks a wide range and variety of timber products to suit user needs.
In 2007, Meyer Timber expanded its New South Wales presence by bringing Structalam Timber Products under the Meyer family and transitioned to Meyer Timber NSW. In 2018 their eastern seaboard growth was complete with the launching of Meyer Timber Brisbane. In 2024, Meyer Timber also acquired Newcastle Timber Trading, which operates under its original name.
A key focus for Meyer Timber in recent years has been early adoption of Meyer Timber: family-owned and focused on quality compliant wood products to ensure its operations are legal, sustainable and compliant.
Meyer Timber is leading a charge against non-compliant laminated veneer lumber (LVL) products, which often fail to meet vital safety and regulatory standards set for Australian timber products. This can lead to severe implications in construction, including structural failures and significant safety risks.
As a major importer of structural engineered wood products, Meyer Timber upholds stringent buying policies to ensure the legality of the timber source and compliance with standards.
National Sales and Marketing Manager, Kent Powell says Meyer Timber dedicates substatial effort to conducting thorough due diligence on products they import.
“For years, sustainability has been a major focus in the industry. Since the onset of COVID, there’s been increased recognition of the need for compliance, especially as site certifiers started voicing concerns about non-compliant materials,” said Kent.
“It’s becoming increasingly clear that our market will soon be well-versed in the legal aspects of timber procurement. Our core suppliers at Meyer Timber are typically visited by our purchasing and engineering teams two or three times annually, and sometimes even more frequently.”
“Beyond that, we also carry out independent audits and utilise our testing facilities in both Sydney and Melbourne. This allows us to provide the necessary documentation that will satisfy certifiers and assure sustainability. Moreover, we are committed to meeting both our legal duties and moral responsibilities, particularly in mitigating the risk of sourcing illegal timber.”
In 2024, Meyer Timber contributed to the development of the WoodSolutions Resilient Timber Homes technical design guide, which promotes sustainable timber home construction, emphasising resilience in design to tackle climate challenges and prioritise occupant safety and well-being.
Meyer Timber’s Victorian branch was also named Trade Supplier of the Year at the 2024 Victoria & Tasmania Timber & Hardware Industry Awards.
Learn more about Meyer Timber’s work via this link.
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