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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.

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Melbourne's Finest Woodworking Courses & Classes

 

The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking (The Guild) was founded by Alastair Boell in 2008. 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.

 
 
 

“Made with heart and hands”

 
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Gift Certificates

We have a great universal filler when it comes to Birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day or Bar mitzvah’s. Our gift cards are a great way to offload the decision making to that special person in your life.

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Feature Classes

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Open workshops

This is a great opportunity for students of all levels to undertake their own projects under the expert tuition of our qualified instructors. There are a number of classes held over morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

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Beginner Courses

Learn to master some of the fundamentals of fine woodworking. In these project based courses you will learn about basic techniques such as carcass construction, dove tail joints, basic hand planning and applying natural oil finish.

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Intensive Courses

Our Intensive Courses are specialist workshops and project based courses in Fine Furniture making, ranging from 1 day to 1 week courses. These courses cater for students of all levels.

Recovery Grant
Working through COVID and beyond.

Forever grateful to the City of Whitehorse for believing in us!

This Botanical Box is made with London Plane with a shellac finish. This video is not designed to be 'instructional' and it has no background music or commentary....it is just a 'fly on the wall' experience in a professional workshop environment. The style of this video originated out of Japan, where Jacqueline and I used to live many years ago. We hope you enjoy it!

2025 Beginners Courses

Classes
North Bennet Street School - 18th Century Candle Box - Beginners Course
North Bennet Street School - 18th Century Candle Box - Beginners Course

Every Wednesday evening
$990.00 AUD
15th July to 16th September 2026
(10 week course)

Presented by Lee Gratton
North Bennet Street School in Boston is one America’s oldest ‘Artisans’ colleges. It was established in 1881 and runs a total of 7 different programs, one of which is a prestigious 2 Year Furniture Making Course.

Shaker Inspired Foot Stool - Beginners Course
Shaker Inspired Foot Stool - Beginners Course

Every Wednesday evening
$1080.00 AUD
22nd April to 24th June 2026
(10 week course)
Presented by Lee Gratton
The stool that we will be making during this 10 week course has its origins in the Shaker life.

Wood Carving Open Class
Wood Carving Open Class

Every Wednesday evening
$650.00 AUD
28th January to 1st April 2026
6:30pm - 9:30pm
(10 week course)

Presented by Wanda Gillespie

Join contemporary artist and woodcarver Wanda Gillespie for an immersive evening of carving. These open classes are designed for all levels — whether you’re beginning your first carving project or developing an existing one.

Beginners Course: The Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking - The Shaker Nightstand
Beginners Course: The Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking - The Shaker Nightstand

Every Tuesday evening
$2200.00 AUD
27th January to 30th June 2026
(22 week course)

Presented by Alastair Boell
The ‘Shaker Nightstand’ course represents the perfect course for the beginner.

Nakashima Inspired Coffee Table - Beginners Course
Nakashima Inspired Coffee Table - Beginners Course

Every Tuesday evening
$1190.00 AUD
13th April to 29th June 2026
(11 week course)

Presented by Mike Blood

Guided by the principles of 'simplicity', 'craftsmanship', 'proportion' and 'material' (ie; the natural beauty of timber, we present to you our 11-week ‘Nakashima Inspired Coffee Table’ course. This course will start with an exciting opportunity to choose your own slab from a large collection of salvaged timbers at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking.

Natural Edged Bench - Beginners Course
Natural Edged Bench - Beginners Course

Every Wednesday evening
$1060.00 AUD
28th January to 1st April 2026
(10 week course)

Presented by Lee Gratton
This elegant Natural Edged Bench offers a satisfying taste of chair making with the convenience of it being scheduled every Wednesday evening for a single term (10 week course).

Windsor Inspired Foot Stool - Beginners Course
Windsor Inspired Foot Stool - Beginners Course

Every Wednesday evening
$1080.00 AUD
14th October to 16th December 2026
(10 week course)

Presented by Lee Gratton
Tailored towards beginners, this Windsor Inspired Footstool offers a satisfying taste of chair making with the convenience of it being scheduled every Wednesday evening for a single term (10 week course).

New in the Shop

Featured
Milk Paint
Milk Paint
A$48.00
Danish Oil
Danish Oil
from A$22.00
Set of 4 Dovetail Gauges
Sold
Set of 4 Dovetail Gauges
A$120.00
MGFW T-Shirt
MGFW T-Shirt
A$35.00

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View fullsize One last post on Netsuke. Three more examples of Susan Wraight’s work. The first one is not a Netsuke but more an example of her carving work that she was asked to put together for an exhibition. Stunning work I think you would all agree. Our l
View fullsize This is a box of Susan Wraight’s Netsuke carving chisels. Each chisel has a different type of timber for a handle. One of Susan’s past students was kind enough to make these handles for her. You can just see ‘White Beech’ writ
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View fullsize Eleni has been working on this epic and quite complex Day Bed for a while now and it is starting to look pretty amazing. Made from New Guinea Rosewood. Eleni attends our Saturday afternoon Open Course. #woodwork #madeinmelbourne #handmade
View fullsize We had a Working Bee on Sunday with a high ambition to make 30 stools for the Guild from timber that was lying around the school. 11 wonderful volunteers turned up for a day of making, talking and eating. We didn’t reach our lofty goal but had
View fullsize Susan Wright’s Netsuke Course starts its 3rd day today and so far it has been just brilliant. Today she brought in a lovely example of the four stages of development she tends to follow. From the left! 1. A plasticine model of the proposed Nets
View fullsize Bev has started her next project and has decided to buy this stunning elm board salvaged from The Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne. Even more special in my opinion, is the hole on the side facing the camera which is where we extracted a series of o
View fullsize A few days again Rick brought in his finished Katana and Wakizashi stand made from Elm and Jarrah. The top Katana dates from the Second World War but the bottom Wakizashi dates from between 1661 and 1673 and was made by Yoshimasa from the Bushu ju Sc
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View fullsize Yesterday we held a sale for our students of my late friend and mentor Bryan Poynton’s hand tools. He collected over the years a sizeable amount of carving chisels. Too many to count. #woodwork #madeinmelbourne #handmade
View fullsize A few more images of our recent trip up to Echuca. 1. Under the impressive wharf structure at the river port of Echuca. 2. There were so many beautiful and original shop fronts within the oldest precinct of Echuca. The boards at the entrance to this
View fullsize Two of the highlights of yesterday’s milling. White oak from the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. Unusually dark and slightly spalted. #woodwork #madeinmelbourne #handmade
View fullsize About ten years ago a managed to salvage some of this incredible figured ash from a back yard in Eastern Melbourne. The arborist had cut it into 1’ blocks. 🤯🤯🤯 Very nice to see it put to good use by Zac Ginnane. He has been restoring these b
View fullsize I came up stairs to the gallery to find this sumptuous beauty. A Blackwood table by Fred @fre.4 The light was just perfect. #woodwork #madeinmelbourne #handmade
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The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this country and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their Elders – past, present and emerging.