Oskar's Wooden Ark is an Australian-owned family toy store, specialising in beautifully made wooden toys, educational resources and art & craft materials, all chosen to inspire open-ended play, hands-on learning and everyday creativity.
Where magic awaits...
"I've been passionate about handmade wooden toys for as long as I can remember."
Simon grew up in 1980s Germany with a childhood full of open-ended play, and wanted to share that same magic with his own children. When his son Oskar was born in 2017, an idea was born with him.
That December, the family said goodbye to friends and family in Germany and moved to Australia with just ten boxes - one of them packed with Simon's own private collection of Grimm's wooden toys and handcrafted animal figures, kept close for the adventure ahead.
That collection became the spark. Once settled, Simon and Thuy began sourcing beautifully made toys from craftspeople and small makers around the world, and opened Oskar's Wooden Ark to share that same sense of wonder with families across Australia.
Years on, their family has grown, their small team has grown, and their warehouse has grown - but their mission hasn't changed.
We choose toys and resources lovingly made by hand. Designed, cut, sanded, sewn and painted by skilled independent makers around the world, so every piece has its own story.
Everything is made to last, using eco-friendly, natural materials wherever possible, because we care as much about the planet our children grow up on as the play that fills it.
That thinking carries through to how your order arrives, too. We choose packaging that can be reduced, reused or recycled wherever possible, and we love seeing our customers do the same.
Thank you for jumping on board the Ark with us and supporting our family business.
Our mission is simple: to provide unique, sustainable, high quality toys and resources that inspire families to play, learn, create and celebrate life's magical moments together.
Simon & Thuy 🌈
