About Eucalyptus Nest

I grew up in Cygnet, down in the Huon Valley, where my dad ran a small hardware store on Mary Street for about thirty years. He sold the same things to the same people every week and never once complained about it. I left at nineteen to do a commerce degree in Hobart, spent a decade doing contract consulting work across construction and logistics, and by 2019 I was running a small firm out of a home office in Cygnet with two clients and a reasonable income. Then both clients restructured in the same six-month window. By March 2020 I had $4,200 in the business account and a mortgage that needed $2,100 a month. That concentrates the mind pretty quickly.

Before Eucalyptus Nest existed I had no background in home goods or retail. My consulting work was project costing and supplier contracts, mostly for mid-size builders in southern Tasmania and occasionally up in Launceston. I knew how to read a freight quote and negotiate net-60 terms, but I had never sold anything directly to a consumer in my life. What I did know was that I had a spare room, a decent laptop, a Shopify trial, and about eight weeks before I needed to show some kind of revenue. I also knew the Huon Valley reasonably well, and I knew there were small producers and stockists around southern Tasmania who sold quality goods locally but had almost no online presence.

— Still based in Cygnet, still watching the freight costs. — Gerald, Gerald Edward Lowe

Our team

• Priya Nambiar — Fulfilment and Logistics Coordinator: Priya joined in January 2024 after five years coordinating stock movements for a wholesale distributor in Hobart's Macquarie Point warehouse precinct, which is exactly where our third-party fulfilment now operates. She manages the daily pick-and-pack schedule, liaises with our freight partners at Toll and StarTrack, and tracks any orders that go quiet after dispatch. Before logistics she did a business administration certificate at TasTAFE's Hobart campus, and she still lives about ten minutes from the warehouse.
• Declan Murchie — Customer Service and Returns: Declan came on board in mid-2022 after Gerald posted a part-time role on the Huon Valley community Facebook group and got fourteen replies in two days. He handles all inbound customer emails and phone enquiries, processes returns through our Hobart depot, and keeps the FAQ section on the website up to date based on the questions that actually come in. He grew up in Huonville and did two years of retail work at a hardware store in Kingston before moving back south, so he is comfortable talking through product specs without making things up.
• Anh-Thu Bergstrom — Digital Marketing and Content: Anh-Thu works with us on a part-time contractor basis from Launceston, where she has been running her own small digital marketing practice since 2021. Gerald found her through a referral from another Tasmanian e-commerce seller in the ATDC network in early 2023. She manages the email calendar, product photography briefs, and paid social spend, and she is the reason the average order value went up $14 in the six months after she started. She is also the person who finally convinced Gerald to put real photos of the Cygnet workspace on the About page.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3–8 business days depending on your location. Express orders placed before 2pm AEST Monday–Friday typically arrive within 1–3 business days. Remote and rural areas may take a little longer.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes. Orders over $120 AUD qualify for free standard shipping Australia-wide. Orders under that threshold attract a flat standard rate of $9.95, or $14.95 for express.

Can I return a product if I change my mind?

Yes, we accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused, in original packaging, and in resalable condition. Return postage costs are covered by the customer for change-of-mind returns.

How do I care for the TrailBlazer Hiking Boot?

Wipe off mud and dirt with a damp cloth after each use and allow the boots to air dry away from direct heat. Apply a leather conditioner every few months to keep the leather supple and maintain water resistance. Avoid submerging them in water for extended periods even though they are waterproof.

Is the CoreStable Yoga Mat safe for people with latex allergies?

The CoreStable Yoga Mat is made from natural rubber, which can contain trace latex proteins and may cause reactions in people with a latex allergy. If you have a known latex sensitivity, please consult your doctor before purchasing. We do not currently offer a latex-free alternative.

Do you offer custom or personalised products?

We don't offer custom orders at this stage. All products are made in set specifications from our Cygnet, TAS workshop. Sign up to our mailing list and we'll let you know if that changes.

Do you supply wholesale or trade accounts?

We do consider wholesale inquiries for retailers and sporting goods stores. Send your business details and estimated order volumes to wholesale@eucalyptusnest.com and Gerald's team will get back to you within 5 business days.

Can I add gift wrapping to my order?

Yes. Select the gift wrap option at checkout for $6.50. Your order will arrive in kraft paper with a raffia tie and a small blank card you can personalise at checkout. Gift wrapping is available on all products except the yoga mat, which ships flat.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Boots held up better than expected” Ordered the TrailBlazer Hiking Boot on a Monday and they were at my door by Thursday, which was faster than I expected for Sydney. Wore them on a wet weekend in the Blue Mountains and my feet stayed completely dry. The leather feels solid without being stiff out of the box. Really happy with the purchase.
• 4/5 “Good mat, slight rubber smell at first” The CoreStable Yoga Mat arrived well-packaged and the grip is genuinely excellent — no slipping even in a sweaty flow session. There was a strong rubber smell when I first unrolled it, but that faded after a couple of days airing out on the balcony. Would have given five stars if the smell wasn't so noticeable initially.
• 5/5 “Son loves the cricket gloves” Bought the VenomFlow Youth gloves for my 10-year-old ahead of the season and used the size guide on the product page to get the right fit — spot on. They arrived in about four days from ordering. He's been batting in them every weekend and they're holding up well.
• 4/5 “Solid racket for the price” The AquaStrike Tennis Racket arrived securely packed with no damage, which I appreciated given how far it travels from Tasmania to Perth. It plays well for club-level tennis and the balance feels good. Delivery took six business days on standard shipping, which was within the stated timeframe.
• 5/5 “Quick delivery, quality reel” Ordered the Silverline Spin Fishing Reel on a Wednesday afternoon and it arrived the following Monday. The drag system is smooth and it handled a decent-sized bream on its first outing at Westernport without any issues. Packaging was minimal but the reel arrived in perfect condition.
• 5/5 “Returns process was easy” I ordered the wrong size yoga mat strap accessory by mistake and emailed hello@eucalyptusnest.com expecting a hassle. Gerald's team replied the next morning and sorted the exchange without any fuss. The replacement arrived within three days. Good to deal with a small business that actually responds.

From the journal

• How I finally found a mat supplier worth trusting — After three samples that smelled like a petrol station and one that peeled apart in six weeks, I think I have found the one.
• Breaking in waterproof leather boots without ruining your feet — Most people wear new boots on a long walk first and spend the next week wondering why their heels look like raw chicken.
• What packing orders from a tin shed in January actually looks like — By 11am the shed hits about 34 degrees and the packing tape stops sticking properly, which is one of those problems nobody warns you about.
• April in the Huon Valley and what slower sales actually mean — Sales dropped about 18 percent in March compared to February and I spent a week being anxious about it before I looked at last year and saw the same pattern.