• Some of the fine and rare offerings from the Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia.
    Some of the fine and rare offerings from the Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia.
  • Evan Dunstone sits atop his Beta stool, available for purchase in kit form from Dunstone Design.
    Evan Dunstone sits atop his Beta stool, available for purchase in kit form from Dunstone Design.
  • At the start of term this year, Colen Clenton taught a toolmaking intensive to full time Sturt students. On the Tools & Techniques weekend he was assisted by Catherine Gorrie.
    At the start of term this year, Colen Clenton taught a toolmaking intensive to full time Sturt students. On the Tools & Techniques weekend he was assisted by Catherine Gorrie.
  • We took a peek at the well equipped machine room at Sturt School For Wood.
    We took a peek at the well equipped machine room at Sturt School For Wood.
  • Thirston Morris (on the left, at the rear) from Allwood Specialty Timbers brought a range of fine timbers to the Sturt weekend for visitors to peruse and purchase.
    Thirston Morris (on the left, at the rear) from Allwood Specialty Timbers brought a range of fine timbers to the Sturt weekend for visitors to peruse and purchase.
  • Displays of hand tools of all kinds at Sturt's Tools & Techniques weekend.
    Displays of hand tools of all kinds at Sturt's Tools & Techniques weekend.
  • Jim Davey with Sturt student Huon Lemercier. Jim is holding a sample of the new Veritas customisable plane range.
    Jim Davey with Sturt student Huon Lemercier. Jim is holding a sample of the new Veritas customisable plane range.
  • Terry Gordon (left) with a customer at the HNT Gordon table.
    Terry Gordon (left) with a customer at the HNT Gordon table.
  • Christian Timbs sources and sells a range of Japanese hand tools, and also trades as Best Abrasives retailing Mirka sanders and accessories.
    Christian Timbs sources and sells a range of Japanese hand tools, and also trades as Best Abrasives retailing Mirka sanders and accessories.
  • Pam showed people the range of jigs and templates available from Gifkin Dovetail while Col gave a presentation and demonstration of boxmaking.
    Pam showed people the range of jigs and templates available from Gifkin Dovetail while Col gave a presentation and demonstration of boxmaking.
  • Red door entry to Sturt School for Wood's Wale Studio, named after founder Alan Wale.
    Red door entry to Sturt School for Wood's Wale Studio, named after founder Alan Wale.
  • Fine toolmaker Chris Vesper offered his range of squares, sliding bevels and other tools at the Sturt weekend.
    Fine toolmaker Chris Vesper offered his range of squares, sliding bevels and other tools at the Sturt weekend.
  • Members of the Southern Highlands Woodies Inc with a display of items made by members.
    Members of the Southern Highlands Woodies Inc with a display of items made by members.
  • Close-up of Veritas custom plane options on Jim Davey's table.
    Close-up of Veritas custom plane options on Jim Davey's table.
  • Service with a smile from friends of Sturt.
    Service with a smile from friends of Sturt.
  • Jeff Freeman with his Coffee Bean coffee table in the foreground at the opening of Alumni, Feb 19, 2017.
    Jeff Freeman with his Coffee Bean coffee table in the foreground at the opening of Alumni, Feb 19, 2017.
  • Relaxing with a beer on Saturday after the first day of the annual Tools & Techniques event. Anti-clockwise from from right: Christian Timbs, Japanese Tools Australia; Evan and daughter Aynia Dunstone, Dunstone Design; Catherine Gorrie; Colen Clenton; Jim Davey; Dale Dryen, School For Wood coordinator; Pam, Gifkin Dovetail; Terry Gordon; Mark Viner, Head of Sturt; Col, Gifkin Dovetail; Thirston Morris, Allwood Specialty Timbers; Chris Vesper; Thirston Morris' son, Ilana Nathan.
    Relaxing with a beer on Saturday after the first day of the annual Tools & Techniques event. Anti-clockwise from from right: Christian Timbs, Japanese Tools Australia; Evan and daughter Aynia Dunstone, Dunstone Design; Catherine Gorrie; Colen Clenton; Jim Davey; Dale Dryen, School For Wood coordinator; Pam, Gifkin Dovetail; Terry Gordon; Mark Viner, Head of Sturt; Col, Gifkin Dovetail; Thirston Morris, Allwood Specialty Timbers; Chris Vesper; Thirston Morris' son, Ilana Nathan.
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Sturt Alumni Exhibition and Open Weekend

27 February 2017
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On the weekend of February 18–19, Sturt School For Wood featured its annual Tools & Techniques event along with the opening of Alumni, an exhibition of new work by past students.

Founded in 1941, the Sturt Craft Centre in Mittagong, NSW is the oldest of its kind in Australia. A wood workshop was built there six years later, however it was not until 2005 that the Sturt School For Wood was officially opened with director Alan Wale at the helm.

Tom Harrington took over when Alan retired and it was during his tenure that the course became accredited as a registered training organization. It is now the only school of its kind in Australia that offers accredited intensive full and part time tuition in fine woodworking.

Rolling hills and wineries make NSW’s Southern Highlands a mecca for tourists and Sturt is also one of the attractions. The centre has not only wood but also pottery, jewellery and weaving studios, along with a shop and gallery space which attracts around 30,000 visitors a year. The gallery represents up to 300 professional artists from all over Australia however the furniture and items made from wood are all made by graduates of the school.

Currently on show is Alumni, an exhibition of work by 14 makers who graduated within Sturt’s first 20 years. The featured makers are Alex Springall, Blair Ossendryver, Chris Wilford, Geoff Tonkin, Jeff Freeman, John Gallagher, Laura McCusker, Mark Lenny, Nick Statham, Paul Nicholson, Roy Schack, Stuart Faulkner, Stuart Pinkerton and Warwick Wright. Alumni is on show until April 2, 2017.

The February 19 exhibition opening was timed to coincide with Sturt’s annual Tools & Techniques weekend, now a popular annual event which features demonstrations and trade offerings of fine tools and timber.

Sturt offers short and full time courses in fine woodworking. Applications for 2018 may be made by contacting the school via www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

Scenes from the weekend are shown in the gallery above while the June issue of Wood Review magazine will feature a review of the Alumni exhibition. Click on the images for a larger view and to read caption information.

 

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