: does anyone know a good source in or near Sydney to buy Kiri?

Make a phone call to these people. They are listed as paulownia "promoters" on the website: http://www.paulownia.org/directory.html

Beaver Multimedia
Suite 306 19-21 Berry Street
North Sydney, NSW Australia
Vox: 61-2-9954-9001

You might also check that paulownia.org directory for the names of growers near you. Again, a phone call should get you the name of a lumber yard that buys timber from them.

By the way, there are numerous addresses on that list for growers and suppliers in the US as well as Australia and other spots around the world.

Hope this helps

PGJ