Our story — Meet Wenjie
I spent 15 years in Melbourne’s hospitality scene, most of it at the pass in busy kitchens. Before that, I trained as a sommelier but ended up cooking more than pouring wine. During that time, I built a solid network of suppliers — cheesemakers in Gippsland, wine producers in Heathcote, even leatherworkers in Coburg for restaurant seating. Then came 2020, and it all ground to a halt. Like a lot of us in the industry, I had to rethink everything.
The first six months of lockdown, I barely left the house in North Fitzroy. A mate from the industry sent me half a hide of leather one day — he thought I might need a hobby. I started making things, at first just for myself. Belts, wallets, scraps turned into bookmarks. It wasn’t fancy, but it stopped me from going spare. I'd always loved the materials side of hospitality, the way every surface or tool told part of the story of a meal.
By 2021, I’d moved out to Bright. I’d had enough of the city. The guy who sent me that first hide introduced me to a tannery out here, and they let me poke around their offcuts. Soon, I was sourcing not just leather but bamboo and Merino wool from local suppliers. I took slow steps setting up Vellum Court. The first thing I sold was a leather journal — 25 units through Instagram. It felt very different from plating 150 covers a night but just as satisfying.
Now, we’re based just outside Bright, working with the same tanneries, mills, and small businesses that got us off the ground. Every product comes from those early connections or ones we’ve built since. It’s a slower pace, but I’m fine with that. These days, I still cook, but just for family and friends.
— Thanks for reading — Wenjie, Wenjie Wu
Journal
Autumn, Merino Scarves, and Bright's Chilly Mornings
There’s a comfort in autumn’s chill here in Bright, especially when wrapped in Merino wool sourced from nearby stations.
Autumn here in Bright starts with a briskness that wakes you up before the coffee does. It’s the mornings I like best — you can see your breath when you step outside, and there’s that faint damp smell of leaves breaking down. It’s also the time when I reach for the Australian Merino scarf we’ve been carrying since the start. The wool comes from a station in Mansfield, about two hours from here. They’ve been doing this for three generations, and it shows. The wool is soft, sure, but more than that, it holds warmth even when the wind’s cutting sideways.
I used to think about seasonality in terms of menus — ramps in spring, blood oranges in winter. These days, it’s about what feels right to wear or carry. The Merino scarf has a certain weight that drapes differently from other wool. It’s heavy, but not suffocating. A farmer once called it ‘nature’s thermostat’. He’s right, I reckon. You’ll be warm without overheating when the sun finally peeks out around 11 a.m. Sitting on the porch, with a scarf around your neck and a mug of tea, just feels like the right way to greet the season.
The wool from Mansfield goes through a few hands before it gets to us. It’s spun into yarn near Bendigo at one of the last woollen mills left in the state. I visit a few times a year just to remind myself how it’s all done. Spinning, dyeing, weaving — everything moves slower than you’d think. It takes about 12 hours to weave enough fabric for a single scarf. Nobody’s in a rush there, which feels distinctively un-Melbourne to me.
If you’re curious about the colours, we keep it simple. There’s the natural cream, which doesn’t even need dyeing, and a charcoal grey. The grey uses eucalyptus bark during the dyeing process. I learned that trick from the mill’s owner, who swears his family’s been doing it for 80 years. It struck me how much knowledge lives in these smaller operations. Every time I visit, I leave with at least one new fact about fibres or dyes I’d never thought to ask about.
If you’re in Victoria this autumn, and you haven’t been to Bright in the morning, you’re missing something. It’s a good excuse to throw on a scarf and wander through the local markets. Just bring a jacket — the mornings bite, even if the afternoons don’t.
The Journey of a Journal: Leather to Paper
From Melbourne’s tanneries to Bright’s quiet shelves, here’s how our leather journals come to life in detail.
I’ve always had a thing for well-worn leather. Back in my kitchen days, my favourite knives all had leather sheaths, and I loved the way they softened with use. That same thought guided the Vellum Classic Journal. The leather’s not glossy or perfect out of the gate, but it breaks in beautifully over time. Every scuff and nick builds character — the kind that tells stories.
The leather itself is sourced from a tannery in Melbourne’s west, where they’ve been operating since 1925. They specialise in vegetable tanning, which takes about six weeks. It’s slower than chrome tanning, but the finish is richer. The hides come from cattle raised for beef around the Ballarat region. A by-product, essentially, but one that avoids waste. I visited once and saw the vats where the skins soak, smelling faintly of bark and earth. It’s not glamorous, but it’s fascinating to know that the process hasn’t changed much in a century.
Once the leather arrives here in Bright, it’s cut and stitched in a small workshop about 20 minutes from my house. There’s a retired couple who run the place — they used to sew car seats before shifting to smaller goods. They’re meticulous, which is exactly what you want. Every journal gets stitched with waxed thread, ensuring the binding lasts as long as the leather cover itself. I’ve tested a few in my own bag over the years. Nothing’s come undone yet.
The final piece of the puzzle is the paper. We use cream-coloured, uncoated pages that hold ink without feathering. Fountain pen users, in particular, seem to appreciate this. The paper’s from a mill in Japan. It’s a bit of an outlier in our otherwise local supply chain, but I haven’t found anything as good closer to home. It’s worth the extra kilometres — and the extra cost. Someone once told me they filled their entire journal during the lockdowns. I can’t think of a better compliment.
If you’ve got one of these journals tucked into your bag or sitting on your desk, know that it moved through five or six pairs of hands before it got to you. Each pair left their mark in some way — invisible to the eye, but there if you know where to look.
Spring Clean: Caring for Your Bags and Journals
Spring’s a good time to give your leather bags and journals a bit of overdue attention and care.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about your wardrobe or your pantry. It’s also the season I like to break out the beeswax polish and give my leather goods a bit of care. Whether it’s the Vellum Leather Tote Bag or a journal you’ve been carrying everywhere, leather benefits from a little attention every now and then. Think of it like seasoning a cast iron pan — a tiny effort goes a long way.
For the tote bags, I recommend starting with a damp cloth, just to remove any dust or surface grime. Don’t soak it — water and leather aren’t close friends. Once it’s clean, use a pea-sized amount of leather conditioner. I use a beeswax-based one from a maker in Castlemaine. Rub it in with your fingers, not a cloth. You’ll feel the leather drink it in. This process takes five minutes, tops, and can extend the bag’s life by years.
Journals are even less maintenance. A quick wipe with a dry microfibre cloth will do for most cases. If the leather’s looking a bit dry, follow the same conditioner routine as the tote bag. Avoid the temptation to overdo it, though. Unlike fabric, leather doesn’t need constant washing or conditioning. Once or twice a year is plenty.
One question I get a lot is about storing leather items. My answer’s always the same: avoid extreme heat or dampness. Don’t leave your bag in a hot car, and don’t stash your journal in a dodgy garage. Leather prefers a stable environment — not unlike humans, really. If you can keep it in a cool, dry place, it’ll stay happy.
Taking care of your things doesn’t have to be a chore. Put on some music, pour a glass of something cold (or warm, depending on the day), and spend ten minutes doing it. Your bag or journal will thank you, even if silently.
Supplier Stories: Bamboo Pens and a Kyogle Farm
A visit to a bamboo farm near Kyogle, NSW, to see where the material for our fountain pens begins.
I spent a weekend last month up in Kyogle, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. It’s a lush, green area, full of rolling hills and gum trees. I was there to visit one of our suppliers — the bamboo farm that provides us with the raw material for our Eco-Friendly Bamboo Fountain Pen. The farm’s run by a guy named Nathan, who’s been working with bamboo for over 15 years. He’s got about 18 hectares planted, and the variety he grows is specifically selected for its strength and straightness.
Walking through a bamboo grove is surreal. The stalks shoot up 15 metres or more, with leaves rustling high above like waves in slow motion. Nathan told me bamboo can grow up to a metre in a single day under the right conditions. That kind of growth makes it one of the most renewable materials out there. The particular variety we use, Moso bamboo, matures in about five years. Once harvested, it’s treated and dried on-site to prevent splitting, then shipped down to us in Bright.
Turning bamboo into a pen isn’t as simple as slicing it into shape. The pieces are precision-cut with a lathe, then sanded and sealed to make the surface smooth enough to handle. The inserts — the nib and converter — come from Germany, which might sound odd for an otherwise Australian-made product. But when I started researching fountain pens, everyone pointed me to this one German manufacturer. They’ve been doing it for decades, and their nibs are consistent in a way you just can’t fake.
What I like most about these pens is the way they feel compared to plastic ones. Bamboo has a subtle texture to it, and it’s warmer in your hand. I’ve had people tell me they write differently, more deliberately, when using one. Maybe it’s psychological — the weight of it, or the fact that it’s refillable. But if a pen can make you pause and think for a second, I think it’s doing something right.
Nathan’s farm reminded me how far removed most of us are from the materials we use every day. It’s easy to forget that something as simple as a pen starts as a stalk in the ground, growing quietly until someone decides to shape it into something useful.
Customer reviews
Ella M. — Fremantle, WA — 2024-02-15 — 5/5
Great quality!
I bought the Vellum Classic Leather Journal, and it’s absolutely stunning. The leather feels sturdy yet soft, and the shipping was faster than expected.
Jack H. — Newtown, NSW — 2024-11-20 — 4/5
Beautiful but pricey
The Australian Merino Wool Scarf is very warm and well-made, but it’s on the expensive side. That said, it arrived in perfect condition and was well-packaged.
Sophia T. — Brunswick, VIC — 2024-06-10 — 5/5
Stylish and functional
I purchased the Vintage Copper Desk Lamp, and it’s the perfect addition to my workspace. It gives a warm glow and feels solidly built.
Liam R. — Paddington, QLD — 2025-01-03 — 5/5
Exactly what I wanted
The Eco-Friendly Bamboo Fountain Pen writes beautifully and feels great in the hand. Delivery was quick and hassle-free. Highly recommended!
Olivia B. — Hobart, TAS — 2024-09-28 — 4/5
Lovely tote bag
The Vellum Leather Tote Bag is both practical and stylish. My only critique is that it could use an extra pocket inside, but the craftsmanship is excellent.
Noah K. — Surry Hills, NSW — 2025-03-14 — 5/5
Super warm scarf
The Merino Wool Scarf is fantastic. It kept me warm even during a trip to Tasmania. Good size and not itchy at all!
Mia W. — Fitzroy, VIC — 2024-12-05 — 5/5
Great gift option
I bought the leather journal as a gift for my partner. It came beautifully wrapped and they absolutely loved it. Will be buying again.
Ethan L. — Manly, NSW — 2025-04-03 — 4/5
Nice pen
The Bamboo Fountain Pen writes smoothly and has a nice natural finish. The ink cartridge was a bit tricky to load, but overall I’m very happy with it.
Shipping
We ship Australia-wide using Australia Post for standard delivery and StarTrack for express delivery. Orders placed before 2pm AEST on weekdays are dispatched the same day. Orders placed after this time, or on weekends and public holidays, will be shipped the following business day.
Standard shipping typically takes 3-7 business days, while express shipping usually arrives in 1-3 business days, depending on your location. Delivery times to regional areas may be slightly longer. All orders include tracking, and you’ll receive an email once your order is on its way.
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Returns
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery in accordance with Australian Consumer Law. Items must be in unused, original condition with all packaging and tags intact. To initiate a return, please email us at support@vellumcourt.com with your order number.
Certain items, such as gift cards, sale items, and custom orders, are excluded from returns. If your item is faulty or damaged on arrival, we will provide a replacement or full refund. Please contact us with details and photos of any issues.
Refunds are processed within 5-7 business days of us receiving the return. It may take additional time for the refund to appear in your account, depending on your bank. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer unless the item is faulty or damaged.