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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.
I have admired this Japanese art form since I was a child when I saw some cabinets in an exhibition at the museum- at least I think they were cabinets.
While I did not produce the lovely neatest work of the group, I was well pleased with my efforts and I am very proud of my 2 completed samples.
I am so pleased I participated in the course and I am now very keen to have a go at more and improve my skills.
Thank you MGFW
Thank you for your time and knowledge last Sunday.
I had an amazing day and I look forward to spending more time with you at the Guild.
Adrian Greening - February 2022
After 30 years watching our Maple grow from a sapling to a 10-metre tree, we decided it was too large for our suburban block and it needed to be felled. We didn’t want to see it cut up as firewood or mulched so we looked into what would be involved to make it into furniture. After several phone calls, I was directed to Alastair Boell who would be able to ‘slab’ the tree for us. Alastair visited us on a rainy day in May 2020 and advised us on what could be done. Alastair was encouraging and supportive of our idea, commenting that he wished more people would do what we were considering. Six months later, after COVID lockdown ended and the top part of the tree had been removed, Alastair visited again with his portable milling machinery. It was a great experience and I was able to be involved by stacking the ‘slabs’ in our patio where they would remain for up to 2 years while the timber dried out. I learned a lot about timber that day; Alastair's excitement of seeing ‘figures’ in the beautiful, creamy white timber was contagious as each slab revealed a new slice of our much loved tree. I am so glad we decided to take this direction. Alastair's care in providing an excellent service was evident throughout the process - he kept me informed of any delays, arrived when he said he would, included me in any decisions and cleaned up afterwards. It has been a very positive experience.
DENISE LYONS - SEPTEMBER 2020
Read MoreThe tree removal company had landed a giant trunk from a Himalayan Cedar tree in our rose garden and needed to be removed. After some investigative work, we found a relative of a friend that knew someone who could help. The answer was Alastair from the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking, who supplied the expertise, manpower and equipment to remove the log from a challenging position, without damaging the garden, then drag it to the milling machine and convert the log into a number of exotically grained slabs suitable, after drying, for making some very fine furniture. We are excited that the cedar log can now be used in such an environmentally friendly way and our rose garden can continue to bloom.
Rob & Chris Palmer - October 2020
Read MoreI have admired this Japanese art form since I was a child when I saw some cabinets in an exhibition at the museum- at least I think they were cabinets. While I did not produce the lovely neatest work of the group, I was well pleased with my efforts and I am very proud of my 2 completed samples. Des is a terrific teacher and he was very generous with his knowledge and experience, especially on the subject of jigs. I am so pleased I participated in the course and I am now very keen to have a go at more and improve my skills. Thank you Des, Shinobu and MGFW.
Lee Anthony - 29th January 2018
Read MoreWhen I heard that Robert Howard Brisbane-based woodworker, sculptor and teacher would be at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking for a two-day spoon carving workshop I jumped at the opportunity to register for the class.
Lucy Callaghan
Read MoreLiving the Dream! Having spent many an hour dreaming of making my own furniture, I was finally able to make it a reality having recently attended the three day Perch Stool workshop with Jon, Alastair and his team. What an amazing three days!
Peter Braden - 29th August 2014
Read MoreThe Perch Stool course is a great opportunity to learn a wide range of skills in carving, turning and chair construction, and come away after three days with a finished project. The instructor, Jon Grant, keeps the class on track to be able to finish the project, but also gives the class a relaxed atmosphere.
Simon Clarke - 10th December 2017
Read MoreMy Perch Stool course with Jon Grant just before Corona Virus hit was a most enjoyable 3 days. Very happy with the result, the 4 coats of shellac really did the trick to bring out the mahogany grain… Will definitely be in touch in the not too distant future to enrol in another woodworking journey of discovery.
Bryan Currie - 30th May 2020
Read MoreI realised I was enjoying myself when at 6 after skipping lunch I was still keen to fine tune the edge on a newly transformed hand plane. The day removed one of the great mysteries of woodwork for me and I now feel empowered to get my on tools safe in the knowledge that I will be able to maintain them.
Kristian Puccio - June 2012
Read MoreI recently attended the Sharpening and Hand Plane Tuning course conducted by Alastair Boell, which I found to be very informative. Alastair is very knowledgeable and is a very good teacher. Having refreshments provided by Alastair’s wife Jacqueline was a nice touch, and we were still there well after the scheduled finishing time. Highly recommended.
John Hogan - June 2012
Read MoreIt had been so long since I did any actual woodworking, in fact searching through my memory it is about 42 years. Simeon Dux rekindled my desire to get back into making stuff. The course was very educational and as I expected and very hands on. Simeon a great teacher and answered all my questions. He also managed my lack of expertise with aplomb and kindness. All round, time well spent.
Bryan Russell - August 2019
Read MoreHighly recommended for anyone that wishes to learn from an inspiring, humble master of the trade. I gained a wonderful insight into the relaxing and challenging world of hand crafted woodwork. I also met a fantastic bunch of people!
Matt Stonehouse - 2014
Read MoreI would like to thank all of the teachers at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking. They all provided great support and knowledge which was especially helpful for someone rekindling their love of working with wood.
Trevor Clarke
Read MoreI had a great day attending the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking to do a Shaker Bentwood Box course. The workshops were a good space to work in and the course was very well prepared for with all the materials and tools ready to go. Alistair’s passion for his craft is strongly evident and inspirational, particularly to those of us who only dream of making woodworking our life’s work. Working with likeminded people was a pleasure and the technical details of making these beautiful boxes were a valuable insight into the Shaker traditions. I came away with a beautiful graduated set of three shaker boxes and a strong motivation to develop the skills I learnt further. MGFW is a great place to imerse yourself in the simple pleasures of working with wood and creating something with basic hand skills. I will come again!
Jon Grant
Read MoreComing from Canberra, I thought it was a big call to attend a course in Melbourne but the sound of the Shaker Box course sounded so good I decided to give it a go. What a decision! I have already chosen more courses I wish to attend, and am juggling work to get to them!! Thank you Alastair (and family) for a great day - I cant wait to come back!!
Damian Wardle
Read MoreThank you Alastair for sharing your knowledge and passion, it puts an added layer on to what we were doing…..I went home and googled the heck out of anything ‘shaker box’ related. A few weeks ago I had no idea that a shaker box existed let alone what it was used for in ye olde days!
Julie Bartling
Read MoreJust a short note to thank Alastair for the Shaker bent wood box making course. Alastair’s infectious enthusiasm and ability to share knowledge made the course a thoroughly satisfying way to spend the day. Now that I have started making these historic boxes I will never buy Tupperware again!
Bradley van Luyt
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