WOOD DUST BACKSTREETS
Being held in the backstreets of Melbourne.
October 6 to 10, 2025
WOOD DUST backstreets is a hardcore woodworking event for both the enthusiast and professional woodworker being held at the Coburg Studios in the backstreets of Melbourne.
This WOOD DUST event offers a full program including Woodworking Workshops featuring inspirational makers and educators from around the world. A special Welcome Dinner where you can meet, chat and sit down for dinner with our visiting guests. And a ‘Yarn’ of course where you can hear all our guests’ backstories and ask your burning questions.
Today we are excited to make our third guest announcement... Welcome writer, designer/maker and craftsman Matthew Kenney.
Matthew Kenney
Matt Kenney has made things from wood his entire life. He made his first piece of furniture - a storage box for gardening supplies more than 20 years ago in the attic above the duplex where he lived. It wasn't much to look at, but making that box awoke a passion for making furniture, a passion that has driven him ever since. He's made a lot of furniture through the years, constantly striving to improve his craftsmanship and design. The result of his efforts is furniture that is modern but grounded in the best of classic design, able to sit harmoniously alongside a wide range of furniture styles, and built to survive generations of daily use.
Matt will be leading two seperate woodworking workshops at WOOD DUST backstreets including a 3 Day Kumiko workshop and a 2 Day Box Making workshop. Come spend time with this sensitive and talented maker. Limited spaces available. Stay tuned for details.
WOOD DUST backstreets Special Guests
Michael Fortune
Designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune is one of Canada’s most respected and creative contemporary furniture masters. Since his career began over forty years ago, Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative and resolved designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings and items in limited editions.
Michael will be leading a 5 Day Chair Design Woodworking Workshop. This is a guaranteed deep dive covering all aspects from the history of chair design through to ergonomics, structure and the anthropometrics of comfort. Participants will each develop their own chair design through sketching, model making, full size drawing and mock ups leading to working prototype. If you have ever wanted to design chairs, this is your chance. Limited spaces available. Stay tuned for details.
Christopher Schwarz
Christopher Schwarz is an American furniture maker, writer and publisher who works from a storefront in Covington, Kentucky. Chris is one of the founders and the editor of Lost Art Press, which publishes books on hand tool woodworking. Chris is also one of the founders of Crucible Tool.
Chris will be leading two 5 Day Woodworking Workshops while in Australia where participants will each build a Seven-stick Comb-back Chair. The first workshop is in Melbourne, the second in the village of Newrybar nestled in the Byron Bay hinterland Northern NSW. Limited spaces available. Stay tuned for details.
Coming Up...
WOOD DUST backstreets 2025
It's early days and there is a lot to do
Stay tuned to WOOD DUST as our event unfolds. We have more special guests lined up, each leading a Woodworking Workshop of their own. Tickets to the Welcome Dinner and the Yarn will also become available soon as venue details are confirmed. Stay tuned for more, tell your friends and get ready for WOOD DUST backstreets.
Located in the Byron Bay Hinterland
Newrybar is a historic village located just west of Byron Bay, a ten minutes drive from Ballina in far Northern NSW. The Newrybar Community Hall was built in 1899 and features solid timber floors, views of the valley and great natural light. Harvest cafe and a convenience store are across the street, accommodation options are plentiful. Broken Head beach is just down the road. This is your perfect regional hideaway to get woodworking.
The week after WOOD DUST backstreets Chris Schwarz will lead a 5 Day Stick Chair Woodworking Workshop in the Newrybar Hall. If you are in Brisbane it's only two hours down the highway. If you are in Sydney, it's a direct one hour flight into Ballina.
If you have ever wanted an unforgettable woodworking experience, this may be it. Places are limited, tickets coming soon.
About Newrybar NSW
Boxes by Matthew Kenney
The Newrybar Community Hall
Fantail Chair by Michael Fortune
About Coburg Studios
69 Charles Street, Coburg 3058
Coburg Studios is an arts and creative hub in the new Merri-bek Creative Precinct offering studios and creative spaces for designers & artists of all disciplines. Ground floor of the Coburg Studios is where all the action is with over 1000 square metres of woodworking Nirvana fully equiped to meet the needs of WOOD DUST backstreets.
Coburg Studios offers extensive street parking or is a 15 minute walk along Gaffney Street from Batman Station. Batman is on the Upfield train line direct from the CBD via the northern inner suburbs of Melbourne. Gaffney Street is also serviced by bus. Pentridge Shopping Mall featuring accommodation, bars, restaurants, cinemas and all types of shopping is just down the road.
Backstreets?
Where it all happens
If you have ever been an inner city woodworker then you will know the backstreets. Those lines of old factories. Shared work spaces. Graffiti. Taking inspiration from what you find and see. Making it work. The backstreets are where it all happens.
See you in the backstreets at WOOD DUST 2025.
Seven Stick Chair by Christopher Schwarz