Meet the team
Ben and Sophie Davidson
Before becoming an antique dealer, Ben had a 20-year career as an opera singer, lecturer, and conductor in the United States, where he earned a Masters of Music from the University of Connecticut. After many international adventures, he returned home to Tasmania and, nearly a decade ago, took over the family business from his in-laws. Since then, he has embraced the world of antiques and never looked back. An avid lover of history, reading, and the outdoors, Ben can often be found mountain biking, sailing, bushwalking, windsurfing, fishing, or flying. It’s rare for the dust to settle on him or his antiques!
While Ben is the one you’ll find in the shop, he’s supported behind the scenes by Sophie - co-owner, company director, and trusted advisor. She may not work in the shop day-to-day, but her wisdom, advice, and steady support are woven into everything at Shop in the Bush. Their weekend “board meetings over coffee” are a highlight.
A true powerhouse, Sophie has held leadership roles across Australia and internationally, including former Acting CEO of WWF. She is currently CEO of the Eskleigh Foundation, creating opportunities in disability housing in Tasmania, as well as Board Chair of Homebase Tasmania and Collegiate School, and a board member of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Despite her many achievements, she always makes time for those around her, bringing clarity, perspective, and purpose to both the business and beyond.
Lily Davidson
Lily is Sophie and Ben’s daughter and has been helping out at The Shop since she can remember. She is currently in her final year at the University of Melbourne, completing a Masters in Creative Writing and Editing. Alongside her studies, Lily works in Melbourne for Ronald Macdonald House as content writer and creator and also as a freelance writer and creative editor for Broadsheet. With an eye for aesthetics and a love of antiques, she continues to enjoy the occasional challenge of helping her old man with technology (did you try turning it on??). In her spare time, Lily loves to write poetry, practice yoga and spending time next to the ocean.
Ingrid Mitchell | Sales
Ingrid, a proud Tasmanian, has lived at German Town near St Marys with her husband since 1985. She is drawn to sparkling things; chandeliers, diamonds, crystal, but her favourite thing is to arrive at the Shop after a few days away and ”find” the treasure that has arrived since her last visit. Her background is in hospitality and administration but since arriving at the Shop in 2017 she has considered herself retired because, as Winston Churchill said, “If you find a job you love, you’ll never work again.”
Cheryl Sheehy | Sales
After spending more than 30 years in the antiques industry as co-owner of an antique centre in Ulverstone, Cheryl brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and a genuine passion for beautiful objects. Having recently begun a new chapter on Tasmania’s East Coast, she is delighted to once again be surrounded by the world she knows and loves — fine antiques, stunning jewellery, and the stories and history that make each piece special.