Meet Ted – Brown Dog’s very own Brown Dog

When you first walk into Brown Dog Furniture on Queensberry St, it is the exquisite reclaimed timber, exposed brick walls and artwork that catch your eye.

Then there is Ted.

The three-and-a-half-year-old chocolate Labrador is the third Brown Dog in the family and a regular fixture of the North Melbourne store. For many locals, he has become something of a celebrity, with people often popping in just to say hello.

And for those less inclined towards a personal greeting, Ted is equally happy to stay in his bed and observe, being the quintessential “good boy”.

Owners Tamara and David Gorrie have operated Brown Dog Furniture since 2010, combining their backgrounds in design, craftsmanship, sales and marketing to create furniture inspired by the natural beauty of Cape Otway and Australian reclaimed hardwoods.

David grew up on a large sheep and cattle property and has always loved timber and furniture design, initially making pieces as a hobby. Tamara’s background is in corporate affairs and marketing, with a flair for relationships.

When family came to the forefront, the pair decided to combine their skills.

“How do we make a livelihood? Well, let’s put our skill sets together – my knowledge and timber craftsmanship, design, and your knowledge of sales and marketing and logistics – and start a furniture company.”

They bought a studio 20 kilometres west of Apollo Bay and, when it came time to choose a name, looked no further than their two chocolate Labradors.

That philosophy remains at the heart of the business.

Brown Dog sources exceptional reclaimed hardwoods from old dairy farms and woolsheds, with every piece retaining its own character and story. The natural shapes of the timber become part of the design, creating furniture that is made to be individual rather than simply fill a space.

“We just needed a small space to demonstrate the timbers, the finishes, the quality of the craftsmanship,” Tamara says of the Queensberry St store. “We moved in in 2011 and have been here ever since.”

Chuck, Morris and now Ted have all come from the same breeder in Mansfield, with each becoming a much-loved part of the Brown Dog family.

“Ted is in the store with Tamara all week and he’s just so great with clients. He’s a wonderful mascot. Most people adore dogs and when they come in there’s genuine delight when they are met by this really friendly, gorgeous Labrador who is so happy to meet them.”

Now, Brown Dog is preparing to open another chapter with The Box Factory in Colac – a beautifully renovated 1948 sawtooth warehouse that will become a regional destination for art and furniture.

Back in North Melbourne, though, Ted remains very much part of the furniture – greeting customers, making people smile and embodying the same qualities that inspired Brown Dog in the first place. “Loyalty, trust, beauty, dependability, beautiful nature – all of those qualities in a Labrador is what we wanted our furniture to be characterised by.”

Brown Dog Furniture is located at 548 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. •