About Dusk Croft

My grandfather Einar started the workshop in Albany in 1971, mostly doing repairs for local farmers and throwing the odd pot on weekends. By the time Mum took it over in the early nineties she had shifted it toward homewares, selling at the Albany Farmers Market and a couple of gift shops down in Margaret River. I grew up sweeping clay dust off the floor and wrapping pieces in newspaper for market days. I never thought I'd be the one to keep it going. I moved to Brisbane at nineteen to study industrial design, and for about eight years I was convinced the workshop was just a nice memory, not a career.

Before Dusk Croft I was doing product development for a Brisbane importer, mostly plastics, mostly forgettable. Good money, nothing I could point to and feel anything about. In 2018 I drove back to Albany for Mum's sixty-fifth birthday and she showed me the workshop ledger going back to 1971. Fifty-three years of orders, suppliers, notes in three different handwriting styles. She wasn't pressuring me. She just left the ledger on the kitchen table and went to bed. I sat there until about two in the morning reading it. That was the decision, really. Not a conversation, just that ledger.

— Still sweeping clay dust. — Brigid, Brigid Sundborn

Our team

• Declan Murchie — Workshop and Fulfilment Lead: Declan came on in mid-2021 after six years running the dispatch floor for a ceramics wholesaler in Brendale, north of Brisbane. He manages packing, stock rotation, and the day-to-day running of the Maleny shed. He also does the quality checks on every outgoing order, something he insisted on from his first week and which has kept our damage rate under one percent since.
• Yolanda Ferras — Customer and Trade Accounts: Yolanda grew up in Manjimup and spent four years working for a small homewares distributor in Fremantle before relocating to the Sunshine Coast in 2022. She joined Dusk Croft that same year to handle customer enquiries and wholesale accounts. She knows the south-west WA supplier network well, which has been useful when we've looked at sourcing timber accessories from that region.
• Tomas Adjei — Digital and Inventory: Tomas studied information systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast and approached us in 2023 about a placement. He stayed. He looks after the website, product listings, and the inventory system that ties the online store to what's actually on the shed shelves. He built a basic stock-alert tool in 2024 that cut our overselling incidents from roughly eight a month down to one.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3–8 business days depending on your location, and express typically arrives within 1–3 business days. Orders placed before 2pm AEST Monday–Friday are dispatched the same day. Remote areas may take a little longer.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes — orders over $99 AUD qualify for free standard shipping Australia-wide. Express upgrades are available at checkout for a flat fee.

Can I return a product if I change my mind?

We accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused, in its original packaging, and in resaleable condition. Sale items and opened personal-care products are excluded.

How do I care for the BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft Cotton?

The fabric seat pad is removable and machine washable on a gentle, cold cycle. Do not tumble dry — lay it flat to air dry. The frame can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Are any of your baby products free from common allergens or harsh chemicals?

The Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash is free from sulphates, parabens, dyes, and synthetic fragrances, and is clinically tested for sensitive skin. Always check the full ingredient list on the product page if your child has known allergies.

Do you offer custom or personalised orders?

At this stage we don't offer personalisation on products, but we do include a gift message option at checkout. If you have a specific request, email us at hello@duskcroft.com and we'll see what we can do.

Do you supply wholesale to retailers or stockists?

We're open to wholesale enquiries. Send your business details and an outline of what you're after to wholesale@duskcroft.com and Brigid will get back to you within 3–5 business days.

Can I add gift wrapping to my order?

Yes, gift wrapping is available at checkout for $6.95. We use sturdy kraft paper and include a hand-written note card if you leave a message. It's a popular option for baby shower gifts.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Carrier arrived quickly and fits perfectly” I ordered the Ergobaby Omni 360 on a Tuesday and it was at my door by Thursday — faster than I expected for standard shipping. The Cool Air Mesh is genuinely breathable; I've been using it on afternoon walks and neither of us has overheated. Really happy with the purchase.
• 4/5 “Good bottle set, one teat was stiff” The Tommee Tippee starter set is solid — the bottles are easy to clean and our newborn took to them straight away. One of the six teats was noticeably stiffer than the others, but I emailed hello@duskcroft.com and they sorted it out without any fuss. Delivery was well-packed and arrived on time.
• 5/5 “BabyBjörn bouncer — our baby loves it” We've had the BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft Cotton in Light Grey for about two months now and it's become the most-used thing in our house. The fabric seat came off easily for washing and dried flat overnight without losing its shape. Arrived well-packaged with no damage.
• 5/5 “Puracy shampoo is the real deal” I'd been through three other baby washes that irritated my daughter's skin before trying the Puracy. After two weeks of using it, the redness on her scalp has settled right down. The pump bottle is practical and the 355ml lasts ages. Will be ordering again.
• 4/5 “Changing pad does the job on the go” The Sunveno changing pad folds up small enough to fit in our nappy bag without taking over the whole thing. The waterproof surface wipes clean easily. I wish the carry strap was slightly wider, but for the price it's a practical buy.
• 5/5 “Ordered as a baby shower gift — arrived beautifully” I added the gift wrapping option when ordering the bottle starter set and the presentation was genuinely impressive — the kraft paper was neat and the hand-written note was a nice touch. My friend messaged me the same day it arrived, which was four days after I ordered. Really smooth experience.

From the journal

• Taking over Dad's workshop, what stayed and what changed — Dad built this business out of an Albany shed in 1987, and I've spent five years figuring out what that actually means to keep.
• How we actually decide what goes on the site — There's no committee, no rubric, just me at the kitchen table reading reviews and occasionally ringing people who know more than I do.
• Summer heat in Maleny and keeping babies cool while carrying — Maleny isn't as cool as people think, and January at 30 degrees with a baby strapped to your chest will change your opinion on mesh carriers fast.
• Visiting our Albany supplier after twenty-odd years — I'd been putting off the Albany trip for three years, and it took exactly one conversation with Rosalie to remind me why face-to-face still matters.
• How we pack orders and why it takes longer than you think — It's just me and Fran, two days a week, in a converted laundry, and there's a lot more checking involved than the 70 orders a week might suggest.
• Using the Babybjörn bouncer through the first year, honestly — Both my kids used the Babybjörn bouncer and the honest truth is that it worked very differently for each of them, which is worth knowing before you buy.