Wallrocks History: Wallrock Antiques was established in 1974 by Nick Wallrock – the store would go on to become an institution in the Australian antiques world.
In mid-2016, after ten years of intensive training under Nick , daughter Jessica Wallrock took the reins to become Director of Wallrocks. Jessica joined the family firm in 2009, becoming the fourth generation of Wallrocks to enter the world of antique dealers.
Jessica brings a strong partnership of experience, history and heritage with a fresh, contemporary and innovative eye for design to Wallrocks. After finishing her bachelor degree in Marketing & Advertising at Queensland University of Technology, she worked in marketing for several years before taking what experience she’d gained to build up a national online presence for Wallrock Antiques, taking the company from one that had been Brisbane based for 30 years, to one that had a large national following within a few years.
Jessica went on to study and qualify in interior decorating and furthered her education with an Art History intensive at Christies London in 2016. While working at Wallrocks she became the beneficiary of a vast combined knowledge of her father Nick Wallrock and UK-based uncle, well-known antique dealer Charles Wallrock of Wick Antiques.
Jessica has a passion for incorporating fine quality antiques into both contemporary and traditional settings to create breathtaking interiors. Her ability to combine expertise with a fresh, modern design sensibility makes Jessica uniquely placed to help customers realise their personal creative vision.
Jessica is on a mission to educate a new generation of buyers, that antiques exciting, beautiful and enormously versatile in their application. Her focus is on assisting buyers who are ready to move on from the world of mass-produced furniture to be daring enough to explore the world of antiques, a world of living art.
‘It is better to own one exquisite statement piece than 100 inferior substitutes.’ Jessica Wallrock
Over 50 years ago, Nick Wallrock founded Wallrocks; the store would go on to become an institution in the Australian antiques world.
In 1974, when hair was long and skirts were short, a young and adventurous Nick Wallrock boarded a ship in the south of England and set out to make a new beginning for his family. It was time of growth, adventure and their was a growing sophistication, when worldlier tastes and outlooks were beginning to change the face of Australian culture.
Coming from a long line of antique dealers, Nick was perfectly placed to act when he noticed a growing demand for English and Victorian antique furniture for the Australian market. Capitalising on his background and connections in the industry, Nick opened his first store in the Woolloongabba precinct, where it thrived for over 30 years before moving to its current Albion location in 2009.
Nick has been an Australian Customs Authenticator for antiques for over 20 years. He has been a member of AAADA and QADA since 1976, and was President of QADA for many years before retiring from the position to focus on the business. Nick trained daughter Jessica from 2009 through until 2016 in a vast industry knowledge that would otherwise have been lost.
