Bull Shit paper hits the mark in federal election

The most mundane by-products from farmland and the bush are being used by Darren Simpson of Wynyard to make to make beautiful, hand-crafted paper.

Apple skins from Spreyton Fresh, leaves and mosses from the Tarkine forest floor, old farmers’ denim jeans, gum leaves and even wombat and roo poo from Cradle Mountain are going through a fascinating process at Australia’s largest hand-made paper factory - Creative Paper Tasmania - and then being sold at a premium to artists and gift shops.

Even cattle dung is being processed and broken down to its most basic element – grass – to make a stunning novelty paper called Bull Shit paper, which Darren reckons might be the best thing out there for penning an election wish list to federal politicians.

Hemp “bast”, the unused outer fibre, has also proven to be a fantastic paper product, turning from brown to white when cooked up, mashed up and squeezed into submission.

“I’m talking to hemp growers in an effort to secure a bigger supply of the bast, it’s proving extremely popular,” Darren said.

Huon pine sawdust and shavings are gathered from wood turners’ lathes to make Huon pine paper that is sold exclusively through the Huon Pine Shop and Gallery in Strahan as writing folios, notebooks, embossed cards and bookmarks.

One customer in South Australia buys seed paper, which has brachycome daisy seeds from WA embedded in it so that the gift paper can be planted to grow flowers.

Unwanted cotton from a defunct towel factory in Devonport or old rags are used to change the base colours, and the added ingredients produce interesting flecks and texture that gives every sheet it’s unique surface.

The paper slurry is spread onto felt made from wool to remove the bulk of the water, and eventually it goes into a press before being hung up to dry.

“I’m the biggest factory in Australia because I can produce more paper than anyone else in a day, and that’s because I’m set up for production rather than making one piece at a time,” Darren said.

“I basically go round and round in circles making paper.”

“My wife Samantha helps out, especially with the website, stitching up the journals we make and handing some of the admin jobs.”

The Creative Paper premises is an industrial shed just off the highway, at 26 Shekleton Rd, Wynyard, and it’s plain exterior belies the colourful world within.

A foyer filled with paper products, artwork, interpretation walls and the magnificent paper mâché sculptures by handmade paper artists Ruth Rees and Pam Thorne, prompt visitors to explore further.

Darren is always happy to take individual and groups on a tour of the paper factory, explaining every part of the process with passion and energy that hasn’t waned since he started making paper with Creative Paper at the age of 19 in 1996 and took on the business in 2021.