Hydrowood appoints Bowens as exclusive Victorian distributor
Tasmanian sustainable timber innovator expands mainland presence through landmark partnership
Hydrowood, Tasmania’s pioneering underwater timber recovery company, today announced that it has appointed Bowens as its exclusive distributor in Victoria, marking a significant milestone in the company’s national growth strategy.
The partnership was officially launched on Thursday 19 February at Bowen’s Circa Studio, with architects, specifiers, builders and members of the Sustainable Builders Alliance in attendance. The strong turnout reflected growing demand across both commercial and residential sectors for genuinely sustainable, high-performance building materials.
“The commercial and residential construction sectors are searching for truly sustainable materials — and that’s Hydrowood,” said CEO Neale Tomlin.
“This partnership ensures Victorian architects and builders can access our product locally and confidently specify it into projects.”
Established in 1894, Bowens is a fourth-generation Australian business with 20 stores across Melbourne and regional Victoria. With deep relationships across the building industry and one of the most advanced ecommerce platforms in the hardware sector, Bowens provides Hydrowood with a powerful channel to market.
Bowens Managing Director John Bowen said the alignment between the two companies was clear.
“Bowens sees its relationship with Hydrowood as a partnership that will grow stronger over time. We’re a business that is great at selling to builders and getting the right product in their hands. We can ensure that Hydrowood gets the audience it deserves, making its way across Victoria and into projects around our state.”
Mr Tomlin said, “As demand grows for transparency around the origins of materials, Hydrowood offers the market something genuinely rare: premium Australian native timber with a powerful and verifiable story of recovery, innovation and environmental responsibility.”
A proudly Tasmanian success story
Founded and headquartered in Tasmania, Hydrowood is Australia’s first and only underwater timber recovery business. Through the development and commercial deployment of underwater logging technology, the company recovers premium Australian native timbers submerged in hydroelectric lakes and transforms them into high-grade architectural and furniture materials.
Hydrowood’s innovative model delivers exceptional products while supporting responsible resource use and environmental stewardship — unlocking value from an existing submerged timber resource.
The Victorian distribution agreement represents a major step in scaling a homegrown Tasmanian innovation onto the national stage, cementing Hydrowood’s position as a Tasmanian success story delivering skilled jobs and export-ready products from the state.
Melbourne-based Hydrowood Sales Director Julia Hall described the milestone as transformative for the business.
“Having watched the Hydrowood journey from the beginning, seeing the transition to full-scale commercial operation and permanent stock available on the mainland is incredibly exciting. This partnership firmly cements Hydrowood in the Victorian market and makes specification easier than ever.”
Now available at Circa Studio
Bowen’s Circa Studio in Port Melbourne provides a curated environment designed specifically for architects, designers and specifiers. The studio is a natural home for Hydrowood, whose unmatched provenance and sustainability credentials resonate strongly with the Victorian design community.
Hydrowood timber is now available for purchase across all 20 Bowens retail outlets across Victoria.
Architects, designers, builders and specifiers are encouraged to visit Circa Studio to experience Hydrowood firsthand and engage early to secure the right timber for upcoming projects.
About Hydrowood
Hydrowood is a Tasmanian company pioneering the sustainable recovery of Australian native timber submerged in hydroelectric dams. Through the development and commercial deployment of underwater logging technology, Hydrowood reclaims long-lost, premium timber and transforms it into high-grade materials for the architectural and furniture sectors. The company’s innovative approach delivers exceptional products while supporting responsible resource use and environmental stewardship.
Media Contact:
Neale Tomlin
CEO, Hydrowood
ntomlin@hydrowood.com.au