ONE of the district’s best known antique dealers says her passion for the industry was inspired by visiting her grand-parent’s home as a young child in Woody Point on the Sunshine Coast.
Desley Bird of KD’s Antiques said she was always fascinated by their “giant ornate furniture”.
It lead her to years later open her first antique shop on the Gold Coast in 1990.
She then moved to sell furniture and old pieces through a major antique centre in Brisbane before she once again opened her own shop this time in Canungra 13 years ago.
“We moved to Boyland and as I wasn’t happy with the antique centre I was using so I decided to look around the local area,” she said.
“It took a while, but I found a shop in Canungra and operated there for a number of years.
“Now we have started our business all over again by closing the original local shop and opening a new one on the roundabout at Tamborine Village in the cottage known to many as the Red House,” Desley said.
‘Strangely, I had looked at the same cottage 13 years ago before deciding on the other location.”
Desley operates the new shop with the help of her husband, Ken, and son Craig.
“People are still learning we are back in business and I am grateful for all the support we have received from the locals of the area.”
Desley buys 99% of her antiques privately and is often approached by families wanting to clear inheritances and those also downsizing.
One of the important advantages in opening her new store was the fact that it features a public carpark next door for those wanting to drop in for a browse.
The former school teacher has a passion and love of antiques and is always on the lookout to add to her large shop collection.
Her passion sees KD’s Antiques open seven days a week and as the word grows it’s becoming busier each week.
It’s always difficult to relocate a strong working business, but Desley’s move is proving a winning one.
