The Upcycled Barn & Tracy's Knobs and Knockers in Port Kennedy

From 80-year-old wartime wallets to lost childhood memories, Port Kennedy’s zero-landfill sanctuary proves every vintage treasure holds a story worth saving.

Wade McColl (04/08/2026)

Tracy, Owner of The Upcycle Barn, standing with Wade McColl, Founder & Director of Baldivis Times. *Photo by Myah Loo, Assistant Director Baldivis Times, 2026.*

In an industrial pocket off Bakewell Drive in Port Kennedy, behind a warehouse door at Unit 4, lies a world where time seems to slow down.

The air inside The Upcycled Barn carries the faint, nostalgic scent of aged timber, polished brass, and wax paint. But more than the smell, it is the immediate warmth that greets you. Owner Tracy does not just run a shop: she hosts a ongoing family reunion where every customer who walks through the door is greeted like a long-lost friend.

Officially opening the physical doors of The Upcycled Barn in February 2017, Tracy’s journey actually began over 14 years ago from her home shed, driven by a simple gap she noticed in the market.

"I found there was a gap in the market for a lack of fancy door knobs and replacement antique hardware for upcycling furniture," Tracy recalls. "I started selling door knobs from home, then ventured into specialty paints and accessories. Eventually, I got too big for home, and the shop was born."

Now marking nearly a decade operating in Port Kennedy, Tracy’s business has evolved into much more than a retail space. It is a regional destination for collectors, DIY restorers, and locals simply looking for a friendly chat.

Sifting Through History

To call Tracy's store an antique shop is a bit of an understatement. It functions as a living archive of Western Australian history and global curiosities, operating on a strict zero-landfill philosophy.

On any given day, visitors can browse through hundreds of brass handles, WW2 grenade bags, vintage clothing, 1979 WA 150th-anniversary memorabilia, and rare glassware.

During our visit, Tracy pulled out a series of extraordinary relics, each with its own incredible story attached:

The 19th-Century Opium Scales: A delicate bone-handled scale set complete with its original wooden casing, used over a century ago.
The WW2 Soldier’s Wallet: A leather wallet from 1942 containing the original identity card of a man named Joseph Harrison from a Fremantle office.
The 1900s Pure Silk Stockings: Unused, pristine silk stockings preserved for over a century.
The Dean Mitchell Suitcase: A vintage leather suitcase marked with a child's name from Embleton heading on a baseball tour to Florida in the 1970s. Tracy tracked down the original owner, then in his 90s, to uncover the story behind how his parents saved $2,000 to send him overseas.

"When I find something and it’s got a name on it, I have to research it because I'm nosy like that," Tracy laughs. "It’s amazing what you can uncover when you start digging."

Navigating the Highs and Lows

Building a successful independent business over 10 years has not come without its hurdles. Between shifting economic climates, steep commercial rent increases, and the daily grind of running a massive showroom, small business ownership requires immense resilience.

Yet, Tracy’s driving force remains unchanged: community.

"It's been a big family journey with my customers," she says. "I’ve seen kids grow up, have babies, get married. Some come in just because they’re having a bad day, or to share a story. They buy solid wood furniture and upcycle paint because they realize mass-produced flat-pack furniture is throwaway. Here, they get something that lasts."

Before leaving, we could not resist picking up a few treasures of our own, including vintage materials, silver coins, and antique plates. But the real take-away from The Upcycled Barn is the reminder that items, and the people who collect them, carry stories worth holding onto.

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