JULY 2017 | Sharon Webb

THERE’S A theory that blokes don’t browse when they shop. They go to one outlet, buy what they need and get out fast.

But Ben Harker has other ideas.

He wants to tempt guys to break out of the just-functional mould, to tease them with gear that Bunnings won’t stock this century and titillate them with must-haves of the hand-made mode.

“If it’s hand-made, quality, and fits the theme of my store I’ll be looking to get it in here,” he said.

Ben’s new baby is Field Rabbit on Emu Bay Rd Deloraine.

Put simply, it’s a bloke’s shop with comfy black sofas for sipping Tas-roasted coffee, of course.

Field Rabbit states its masculine purpose as soon as you step through the doors with benchmade knives sporting labels like Grohmann of Canada, Buck and Esee of USA, and Joseph Rodgers of Canada and Sheffield, England and equipment to sharpen them; well-crafted de Witt garden tools forged in Holland; and books about how to cook game.

The theme of yang, male and creative, continues with rustic furniture by Quamby Brook’s Marlene Ray bringing the lived-in smoothness of recycled timber and blokey art works by locals who formerly exhibited at Elemental Artspace.

Ben also wants to include locally made knives and fishing flies, and it wouldn’t be a blokes’ shop without the accoutrements of shaving:  safety and cut-throat razors by Giesen and Forthoff.

Ben came to Tasmania in 2015, following his family: sister Bec who’d set up her arty shop Brush Rabbit in a rambling building on Emu Bay Rd and parents Phil and Judy.

“I came here for a job in Burnie after eight years in mining equipment. My wife Brea and I brought the kids here for a lifestyle change after we’d visited and enjoyed the southern, mountain feel,” he said. “This community is a healthy place to be.”

But the Burnie job didn’t work out, Ben describes it wryly as “having the opportunity” to become unemployed.

Brea kept the family afloat financially through her work as a remedial masseuse and Ben took care of the kids, helped out at Bec’s shop and took over the online knife business that became the starting block for Field Rabbit.

“I believe Deloraine can foster a lot more variety in shops," Ben said.

“Quite a bit of tourism goes through here and Field Rabbit will be something a bit different.”

Call it a man-cave – maybe.  I know a lot of women who’ll bounce into Field Rabbit for a gift for their hard-to buy-for bloke.

Photo | Mike Moores