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14 Cottage St
Blackburn, VIC, 3130
Australia
0413 537 490
The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking was founded by Alastair Boell in 2007. After graduating from the world renowned North Bennet Street School, Boston (USA) Alastair felt that there was a great need in Australia for an educational facility that focuses on traditional skills.
The Guild is committed to preserving and advancing craft traditions in furniture making. We are also committed to promoting a greater awareness and appreciation of
craftsmanship. In our classes we emphasize the skillful use of hand tools and power equipment and an informed use of appropriate materials. We are passionate about what we do and want to share information, ideas and skills with all our students young and old, from beginner to advanced.
Filtering by Category: Instructors
Matt specialises in crafting steam-bent Middle Eastern frame drums and these are played by professional musicians around the world. Matt was an artist-in-studio at Montsalvat artists colony where he also taught students to craft their own drums.
Read MoreEddy is a qualified furniture restorer with 16 years’ experience. While he specialises in French polishing furniture of all styles and periods, he has a particular interest in English, French, Italian and Australian furniture of the early and late Victorian period.
Read MoreJon’s strong sense of place comes from several generations of his family living in Tasmania. He holds a deep connection with the landscape of his island home and an affinity with the beautiful and unique timbers that grow in the cool temperate forests.
Read MoreSimeon Dux is a fine furniture designer and maker from Melbourne, who specializes in crafting unique one of a kind pieces.
Read MoreComing from a background in music and architecture, Michael’s journey into furniture making was prompted by some ideas and interest that he had in instrument making (drums in particular). The study of furniture making seemed to be the most practical and logical step to acquire the necessary skills for wooden instrument making.Accordingly in 2014/15 Michael undertook a Certificate III in Cabinet and Furniture making at Holmesglen TAFE full-time.
Through participation in the Furniture Making course, he became more interested in the craft of furniture making itself and gained a great satisfaction and inspiration from the experience of working with wood.
Since 2016 Michael has been a full time furniture maker making furniture at Whelan, Westwood and Tide Designs.
Michael has entered pieces in the Student Craftsmanship category of Furnitex Awards in 2014 and 2015, both of which became finalist pieces and also received an award for Excellence in Craftsmanship at the Holmesglen TAFE Design Awards for 2014.
Read MoreDarren began learning his craft at The Guild with Alistair in 2014. Five years later, his desire to make could no longer be contained. He closed the doors of his architecture practice and moved to Mittagong in NSW, to undertake the year long course at The Sturt School for Wood.
Read MoreMike’s furniture making career started at the Guild in 2016. Working with mentors during weekly open classes and speciality classes, particularly in Windsor chairmaking, have been a personal highlight and inspired him to build his own workshop and tool collection. Mike favours Shaker and Mid Century design, and loves the lines created in American Windsor chair design.
In 2016 Mark studied Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Technology (Fine Furniture Making) at Sturt School for Wood in Mittagong NSW. After graduating he remained at Sturt working from the resident workshop. During this time, Mark was given the opportunity to be a casual teacher for the part time Fine Woodworking program and in 2018 he was the Sturt School for Wood Course Coordinator.
Read MoreMichael has had a lifelong passion for woodworking. He has taught “Design and Technology” for over 45 years with a special interest in woodcraft and furniture making. His extensive portfolio of work ranges from modern furniture and cabinetry through to classic works of reproduction, especially those from Japan.
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