The deck is finished - a two week build. Very pleased with how it turned out! I'll be leaving it and rinsing with water every few days for a couple of weeks before I apply decking oil. Apparently, Merbau leeches tannins and oils and darkens in sunlight and it's best to wait until that process completes before applying oil. I'll only be oiling outside the observatory walls too so I'll erect the observatory first. I did think of painting it but it looks way too pretty to paint!
Gene, the builder (Lomaco Constructions in Goulburn), did a great job IMO! He went out of his way to satisfy my design and rigidity requirements and his attention to detail was excellent!
All progress pics HERE