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 second guest announcement... Welcome furniture designer, maker, teacher and mentor Michael Fortune.
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.
WOOD DUST backstreets Special Guests
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 a 5 Day Woodworking Workshop where participants will each build a Seven-stick Comb-back Chair. Limited spaces available. Stay tuned for details.
Coming Up...
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.
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.
Fantail Chair by Michael Fortune
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 Comb-back chair by Christopher Schwarz