How Burning Log became a Canberra icon
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If you live in Canberra, you’d know the name Burning Log.
Staking out a prime corner spot on Wollongong Street in Fyshwick, the family-owned store is synonymous with helping customers live their best outdoor lives with beautiful contemporary outdoor furniture and barbecues and keeping them toasty in winter with fireplaces.
Having racked up more than 35 years in the business, it’s become something of a Canberra icon. But what’s the back story?
Now known for working with some of the world’s leading manufacturers to bring the best of trends to the homes of locals, originally (and unsurprisingly as the name suggest) Burning Log had a focus on fireplaces. But when original owner John Carey noticed a need to even out the year in sales, he knew they had to diversify.
And while he never wanted to move into outdoor furniture and barbecues, that’s where Burning Log end up.
Now—with the mission to help customers optimise the design of their living spaces by offering beautiful contemporary outdoor furniture and highly efficient fireplaces—Burning Log works with industry-leading brands such as Weber, Jetmaster, Coonara, Shelta along with European brands such as Jati & Kebon, STUV, Cheminees Phillipe, Piazetta, Axis Seguin, Bordelet and Focus to bring the best to Canberra.
According to Pat Carey—John’s son—it’s all down to the reputation they’ve built over the years.
“With the outdoor furniture business, we go to furniture shows around the world, and our brand is known. We go in uniform and suppliers come to us. They understand how strong we are in the market in Australia, so we have a reputation which is a bit surreal at times,” he says.
“We’ll go to a trade show in Germany, and someone will say, ‘Oh, you guys are the Outdoor Elegance guys from Australia’. I have a bit of a laugh about that to myself and think, we used to be this little Burning Log store in Fyshwick. We’ve really come a long way.”
One of Burning Log’s elegant fireplace solutions.
With industry roots starting more than three decades ago, it’s no surprise that the name Burning Log Outdoor Indoor has become synonymous with quality in both Australia and the international market—inspiring barbecue giant Weber to approach them in 2016 with the offer to be one of the first Weber Stores in Australia. They still exclusively stock Weber barbecues to this day.
There are over twenty-two different premium BBQs to choose from—including the Weber Kamado, a Smoke Fire Pellet BBQ, the Weber Traveller, an Electric Pulse, the Weber Q, and more—as well as over seventeen thousand variations on their Weber Outdoor Kitchens, making Burning Log the home of Australia’s most trusted BBQ brand and the only place in Canberra to see the full range.
And with a focus on upgrading the shopping experience for customers, the answer to how Burning Log became a local icon is simple—it’s committed not only to quality but also to the Canberra community.
“Burning Log has been a part of the Canberra community for 35 years and we’ve always been there in the good times and the tough times—particularly in the last two years,” says Pat.
“Many of our staff have been with us for years, if not decades, and through it all, they’ve always been there to support and help Canberra families create the lifestyle they deserve. And we’re not planning on going anywhere.”
