Timber's timeless appeal will be the drawcard luring thousands of woodwork enthusiasts to Bulli Showground next month.
Coledale residents Suzanne and Stuart Montague started the Illawarra Festival of Wood in 2017 after noticing a gap in the market, and, having trimmed the title to Woodfest, are again overseeing stalls, displays and sundry attractions on October 18-19.
The festival will include varied workshops, a makers market, food and coffee and live music celebrating all things woodwork.
Co-organiser Suzanne says the festival is forever evolving.
''People come, whether it be to buy tools, to do a workshop, just to talk to people and talk to artisans about their work. It's all about reimagining the woodworking festivals of the past and bringing something back to grassroots across cultures and demographics,” she says.
“Once upon a time, I would go to the woodworking festivals with Stuart because they were really interesting and a bit of fun. Then, they just became taken over by people that were selling these massive woodworking machines and tools.
“There’s all sorts of people who are interested in woodwork, but they’re not interested in buying a CNC machine, or a massive planer – they just want woodworking skills.”
Suzanne has a background as an art teacher, while Stuart is a third-generation master woodworker. She says that in 2025, Woodfest is the only grassroots woodworking event of its kind in NSW.
“What we really wanted was for it to be multigenerational," Suzanne says. "So that grandparents, parents and grandchildren could come along and there was something for everybody."
This year’s Woodfest will include at least 16 workshops for people of all ages, interests and skill levels. New additions include a weaving workshop with award-winning fibre artist Catriona Pollard, who uses found foliage to create wreaths. The Illawarra Woodwork School will offer workshops in kumiko, a Japanese method of joining timber without glue.
Children's workshops will run, including traditional spear-making with Budawang elder Noel Butler, and whittling workshops for kids to carve wooden birds and animals. Other popular sessions include spoon carving and pyrography (burning images or writing into timber).
"A lot of people come and try the little workshops that we run over the weekend and then they might end up coming to our school, or having lessons with somebody else," Suzanne says.
"One lady, Rachel, her business is called Waiting for Spring... she did a spoon-carving workshop at our festival and that’s turned into her career now. That's what she does.
"It's really nice when you have stories like that... about people where it was just a hobby or a sideline and now it's become their business.”
The makers market will host at least 13 stalls, including ethical timber sellers from the Illawarra and Central West NSW. Paprika Knives will showcase artfully handcrafted knives and Ironbark Toolworks will bring their wares from Queensland. Groups such as Sydney Woodcarving Group and Illawarra Woodworking School will join leather makers, bowl makers, artists and fine furniture to exhibit work of all kinds.
"It's not something where you have to spend a lot of money to get into. You can have a look around and leave,” Suzanne says. “But some people tell us ‘I got dragged along and ended up having the best day, I’ve been here all day and I’ll come back tomorrow.’ ”
The event will support food trucks and musicians, including Camden folk duo The Honey Sippers and Wollongong musician Micah Perry. Suzanne and Stuart expect to see around 4000 people coming to connect with like-minded people on wood crafts or simply enjoying a fun family day out.
Everyone is welcome to come along for a gold coin entry.
For more info, visit the festival’s website and follow Woodfest on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
