How the Guild Started

On the 24th  May 1989, a meeting of woodworkers interested in combining their skills and abilities was held and it was agreed unanimously that a guild be established in the Bundaberg district. Bundaberg Woodworkers’ Guild was formally created. Constituted, and a set of ideal logical objectives declared.

Initially, meetings were held at the TAFE College on Walker Street However, after a few months, due to changes within that organisation, they were forced to seek an alternative meeting place.

This was kindly offered by the Principal of the Norville Primary School,  where we gathered in the school library. Early 1992  we negotiated permanent accommodation at the Bundaberg Showgrounds with the Bundaberg A. P. & I. Society.

Originally two meetings were held each month. The first Wednesday of each month is a hands on workshop with member and visitor participation. The third Wednesday meeting commences with the formal meeting to address Guild business. This period is followed by a presentation and discussion of works and exchanges of ideas.

A Timeline of the Guilds History

How it grew, where it met Major Events

In 2000 an agreement with the local City Council the Guild moved into one hired room of the old Scout Building which had been moved into what is now known as the Walker Street Craft Centre.

A grant was acquired to erect a colour bond shed 8m x 5m and this became the start of the current workshop. In the early days the Guild was mainly a woodturning Club. Another Grant was used to extend the rear of the shed to store Timber.

As the Club grew some members looked to build small furniture. Grants were used to extend existing workshop and purchase suitable machinery for the manufacture of the small furniture.

The Club expanded into many disciplines such as carving, bandsaw boxes, toy making and in later years a very good Scroll Saw group has emerged.

In 2012 the need for more space arose and the Timber storage area became too small so it was decided by the Committee to investigate the erection of a timber storage area which came to fruition over the next two years and now houses a horizontal and vertical bandsaws used to break down small logs, etc.

In 2022 a grant was applied for and received to build another shed connected to the woodshed down stairs, under our past president Stephen Faulkner.

The current Club

We meet every Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday mornings from 8.30am till 12.00pm (Tuesday afternoons by appointment only)

Current Club members is around 80. The Committee meets monthly, with general meetings bi-monthly at the Walker Street Craft Centre.

Community Involvement

Each year in October the club holds its own woodwork competition and open day. This includes demonstrations, members sales tables, entertainment and involvement of other local groups and small traders.

With demonstrations by members of Wood Turning, Scroll Sawing, Pyrography and carving.

The Club also participates in the local Bundaberg A.P.& I. Show Society with an extensive competition for members and public Woodworkers.

The Club also builds toy trains for the Australian Sugarcane Railway Group which operates in the Hinkler Botanical Gardens. We also have an association with the local Gem Cub for their Expo, and Bunnings Sausage Sizzles and night demonstrations.

At the December 1990 General meeting Ken Smith the Vice President of the newly formed Bundaberg Woodworkers Guild spoke of a Tree Planting Program to be sponsored by the Guild in the Botanical Gardens North Bundaberg. It was envisaged that it would become a display area, Picnic tables and benches could be built to become an area for future BBQ’s and in time the Trees could be harvested for timber to be used by the Guild.

In May 1990 with an estimated 25 trees to be planted the project commenced however the number of trees soon ballooned out to 104 and the project committee contacted a number of school principals asking for some help from high school children. Coverage of the first planting was covered by the News Mail and AOC radio. Additional plantings were carried out in later years. In April 1991 a carved sign was erected at the sight carved by Vreni Kpefer who was teaching members the art of wood carving. In 2008 “Michael Chisholm of the foundation Members” escorted a number of members to have a look at the rain forest but the carved wooden sign was gone and replaced by a metal sign by the council however the wooden crosses naming the trees were still there. Recent floods have washed away all signs but the trees have faired reasonably well. All members should visit this attraction and maybe we can get some interest going in the project once again.

The aims of the Club

• To promote, foster and encourage interest in working in wood.
• For communication of ideas amongst people of similar interest
• To better gain knowledge of marketing and literature that is available in this area.
• To encourage and promote the work of the woodworker in the community and among Young people in particular.
• To be an organisation which will help to raise the standards and gain recognition for
• The fine work being done by woodworkers.
• To foster awareness of the conservative use of our natural wood resources.