About Wallaby Wares

I spent eleven years as an occupational therapist and researcher at the University of Tasmania, mostly looking at how sensory environments affect recovery outcomes in aged care. Hobart is a good place to think slowly, and I did a lot of that. My specialty was tactile and olfactory stimulation, which sounds clinical but basically meant I spent a decade reading papers about why certain textures and scents help people feel calmer or more alert. I kept detailed notes on plant-derived compounds, Australian native botanicals in particular, because the local pharmacognosy literature was genuinely underexplored. That background is why Wallaby Wares exists at all.

Before the business I was not someone who made things. I ran trials, I wrote grant applications, I sat on ethics committees. The closest I got to a product was a sensory kit we trialled at a Launceston residential facility in 2018, 47 residents, twelve weeks, self-reported outcomes. The results were good enough that the facility asked if they could keep using the kit after the trial ended. I said yes, obviously, then spent the next three months figuring out where to actually source the components at a scale that made sense. That procurement headache was the first time I treated a product like a problem worth solving properly.

— The notes are still in the spreadsheet. — Lyndall, Lyndall Gai Cook

Our team

• Preethi Nambiar — Fulfilment and Inventory Coordinator: Preethi joined in early 2023 after six years managing stock and dispatch for a health products wholesaler in Ballarat. She brought a proper inventory system with her, replacing the colour-coded sticky notes that had been holding things together until then. She handles all inbound supplier deliveries, manages the twice-weekly dispatch schedule, and keeps a running audit of batch numbers that Lyndall uses for quality checks.
• Declan Featherstone — Digital and Customer Operations: Declan grew up in Castlemaine and studied information systems at Federation University before spending four years doing e-commerce support for a small Melbourne homewares retailer. He came on board part-time in mid-2023 and moved to full-time hours by October that year when order volume made it necessary. He manages the Shopify back-end, handles customer enquiries, and runs the email list, which currently sits at just over 3,400 subscribers.
• Brigitte Szabo — Formulation Research Assistant: Brigitte completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in cosmetic chemistry at RMIT in 2021 and spent two years contracting for a Geelong-based contract manufacturer before Lyndall brought her on in late 2023. Her job is to run stability and compatibility testing on new formulations and keep the ingredient documentation current against the NICNAS and AICIS registers. She works three days a week from the Bendigo workshop and one day remotely from her home in Kyneton.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

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

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes — free standard shipping applies to all Australian orders over $75. Orders under that threshold attract a flat $9.95 standard shipping fee or $14.95 for express.

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, unopened and in its original packaging. Once we receive and inspect the return, we'll process your refund within 5 business days.

Are your products safe for sensitive skin or allergies?

Each product page lists a full ingredient breakdown — please check it carefully before purchasing. If you have a known allergy or skin condition, we recommend a patch test before first use. You're welcome to email us at hello@wallabywares.com with specific ingredient questions.

Where are Wallaby Wares products made?

Everything is made in our workshop in Bendigo, Victoria. Founder Lyndall Gai Cook oversees production, and we don't outsource manufacturing.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

Yes, gift wrapping is available at checkout for $5.00. We use recycled kraft paper and include a handwritten note card if you leave a message in the order notes. Wrapped orders look good — no tissue paper stuffing or unnecessary filler.

Can I place a custom or personalised order?

We don't offer product customisation at this stage, but we do accommodate bulk gift orders with custom note cards for corporate buyers. Reach out to hello@wallabywares.com with your requirements and we'll let you know what's possible.

Do you sell wholesale?

We do work with a small number of independent retailers. Send your business details and a brief intro to wholesale@wallabywares.com and Lyndall will get back to you within 3–5 business days.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Genuinely impressed” Ordered the Kakadu Plum Radiance Serum on a Tuesday and it was at my door by Thursday — faster than I expected from a small brand. Used it for three weeks straight now and my skin looks noticeably more even. Will be reordering.
• 4/5 “Solid mask, decent size” The Charcoal & Clay Detoxifying Mask does exactly what it says — my skin felt clean without being stripped. The 200g jar is good value and I've been using it twice a week for two months with plenty left. Only reason it's four stars is I'd love a smaller travel size option.
• 5/5 “My hair actually feels different” I was sceptical about the Argan & Macadamia Intensive Hair Elixir because I've tried a lot of similar products that just make your hair greasy. This one absorbs well and my ends stopped splitting as much after about two weeks of use. Packaging arrived securely and the bottle is sturdy.
• 4/5 “Under-eye balm worth it” The Rose Hip & Peptide Under-Eye Recovery Balm is small but a little goes a long way — I've been using it nightly for six weeks and the 15ml is still going. Perth delivery took five days on standard which is about what I expected. Would buy again.
• 5/5 “Great body balm, no fuss” Bought the Lavender & Chamomile Soothing Body Balm as a gift and ended up keeping it for myself. The scent isn't overpowering and the texture is thick without being sticky. Arrived well packaged with no leaking.
• 4/5 “Good product, easy process” Ordered the serum for my partner and the checkout and delivery process was straightforward — tracking updated properly and it arrived in four business days to Adelaide. She's been happy with it so far. Would shop here again.

From the journal

• What I learned visiting our Kakadu plum grower in Arnhem Land — I spent four days in the Northern Territory last month and came back with a completely different understanding of why this fruit matters to our serum.
• How I actually use the detoxifying mask, and why timing matters — Most people leave clay masks on until they crack and tighten, which is longer than they need and probably not doing what you think it is.
• Six months reformulating the under-eye balm and what went wrong first — The first version of the Rose Hip and Peptide Under-Eye Recovery Balm had a texture problem I could not ignore, so I started over in August and finished in February.
• End of summer in Bendigo and what my skin tells me about it — After three months of 38-degree days and dust from the north, my skin in late March is a reliable record of everything I did and did not do consistently.