HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
Aladdin should be so lucky ! Dave Cranshaw ’ s Windsor Restorations has a huge range of replica “ ye olde ” products when building or renovating the home or office . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
by Greg Martin
The only useful thing Aladdin removed from a booby-trapped magic cave was a tarnished lamp .
Admittedly the genie released from the lamp , after a bit of spit and polish by Aladdin ’ s mother , did provide the young man and his family riches as well as a box of Tim Tams .
For home builders and renovators across the nation and in several foreign countries , their version of Aladdin ’ s Cave is Dave and Sharon Cranshaw ’ s Windsor Restoration Supplies Centre .
Kathryn Johnston ’ s accompanying photo gives you an idea of what riches await those who enter the Cranshaws ’ “ cave ” which was “ breeched ” by Dave and his mother , Bev , in 1992 .
You might well be able to get anything you want at Alice ’ s Restaurant and the same applies to Windsor Restorations !
My first editor , “ Sitting ” Pat Farrell , told me early in my scribbling career that “ nostalgia ” sells .
Sells newspapers , and “ sells ” people on the past .
And going back in time is now the big “ go ” for home builders and renovators and folk just wanting to spruce up old furniture .
A stroll through Windsor Restoration ’ s rooms in the historic Green Hills Cottage is certainly a stroll down memory lane for those searching for “ ye olde ” door hardware , cabinet ware , lighting , switches , plumbing , window hardware , tapware , bath ware , window fittings and much , much more .
When Windsor Restorations opened for business in 1992 on the rented lower floor of Windsor Antique Market , all products were salvaged in garage sales and council recycling shops and purchased off people wanting to offload “ old stuff ”.
“ It was extremely difficult back then in sourcing fair dinkum products but that was to change ,” Dave explained .
“ About the time we relocated to Green Hills Cottage and built an extension , manufacturers around Australia realised there was a growing market for a huge range of restoration products .
“ So now most of our products are faithful replicas of the past and fortunately , those living in the present are keen as mustard to go back in history !”
Windsor Restoration ’ s products have sold across all states and territories and have even found homes overseas in Germany , New Zealand and Singapore .
Local hoteliers have a yearning for Windsor Restoration products and their wares are on display at Richmond Inn , Tate ’ s Hotel , the historic Macquarie Arms and more recently , the North Richmond Hotel which has undergone a huge back-to-thepast restoration .
Windsor Restoration products have also been snapped by Heritage NSW , NSW National Parks for its camping and accommodation centres , Victoria Barracks in Moore Park and at HMAS Creswell , the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay . And a multitude of homes and offices around the country ! I asked Dave what kicked off his interest in products from yesteryear .
KURMOND
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6 ISSUE 145 // JUNE 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT