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ESSENTIAL INFO
If you purchase a ticket for this course, all the information on this page will be emailed to you with your ticket.
👥 Suitable for: Ages 18 and up
📍 Venue: Bellingen High School
📈 Level: INTERMEDIATE skill level
⏰ Schedule: Mon–Fri, 9am – 4pm (5 Full-Days)
🏷️ Extra costs: This course has a cost of approximately $220 for materials
⚠️ Extra info: For safety reasons this course is not mobility aid accessible
Required skills & experience
While previous experience in measurement, marking, drilling, welding, and hammer work is beneficial, these skills can be learned during the workshop.
What's essential is:
Moderate Physical Strength: You'll be lifting, hammering, and maneuvering steel components.
Stamina: Long workshop days require sustained physical and mental energy, in an often very hot workroom.
Enthusiasm: A willingness to embrace the physical demands and learn traditional techniques.
Supplies that will be provided by your tutor
Cost of approximately $220 includes:
Steel - pre-cut to length
All consumables including - LPG for forges, oxygen/LPG heating gases, rivets, drill bits, abrasives etc will be included in the fee above.
Any extra decorative elements (including hinges, if required) MUST be discussed with the tutor before Camp Creative.
No paint will be provided
NOTE: Supply costs will be collected by the tutor before Camp Creative.
Supplies that you need to bring to class
PPE - Long pants and long-sleeved cotton shirt
Leather boots, safety glasses and gloves are essential
Optional - Welding mask
Optional - Earmuffs
Learning outcomes
Create a beautiful finished garden gate to take home
Learn foundational blacksmithing skills
Gain an understanding of traditional metalworking techniques
Have the confidence to tackle future metalworking projects
The combination of ancient craft and modern methods you'll experience represents the evolution of this timeless art form.
COURSE PLAN
DAY ONE - Safety, Sparks & The Frame
Suit up in your PPE, learn your way around the studio, and get comfortable with the forges, anvils, and welding stations.
Crank up the heat and start prepping your pre-cut steel to construct the main structural frame of your gate.
DAY TWO - Bending Steel & Hammer Work
Get into the rhythm of the blacksmith shop, heating and hammering the internal bars and core components of your gate.
Master traditional techniques to bend, twist, and manipulate heavy metal using your own physical energy.
DAY THREE - Bringing it Together
Move over to the assembly and welding stations to structurally lock all your prepared pieces into the main frame.
Watch your project transform from a pile of loose bars into a solid, functional, and secure garden gate.
DAY FOUR - Forging Flair & Hardware
Tap into your creative side by forging custom decorative elements or a unique, artistic panel to add to your gate if time permits.
Work with the tutor to fit any pre-arranged hinges or latch hardware so your gate is fully functional and ready to hang.
DAY FIVE - Clean Up, Polish & Triumph
Spend the final day grinding down welds, smoothing out rough edges, and cleaning up the steel for a professional-quality finish.
Admire your handiwork, pack up your epic, handmade masterpiece, and celebrate a hard-earned week of playing with fire and steel!
COURSE TUTOR
Colin Dray
Colin studied Geology at Sydney University in the 1970’s, and went on to teach Earth and Environmental Science, Industrial Arts and Metalwork at Bellingen High School.
He became fascinated with Blacksmithing and Metal Design in the early 90’s and joined the Artist Blacksmiths Association of NSW. He has continued as an active and enthusiastic member of the group, helping to promote the growth of modern blacksmithing, by attending several Conferences and Festivals in Europe and the US, and by encouraging international smiths to visit and teach Masterclasses in Australia.
He gained trade qualifications in Metals and Engineering (Industrial Blacksmithing and Welding) putting these skills to use in Artistic Blacksmithing, regularly exhibiting forged sculptures in local and regional art galleries.
He contributed sculptural pieces as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Fe26 – Discovery’ held at the Glasshouse Gallery in 2019, which dealt with the interactions and experiences that occurred between Europeans and Indigenous people when John Oxley first entered the Hastings River valley 200 years earlier.
Colin participated with an Australian team in the World Blacksmithing Championships in Stia, ITALY, in 2017, competing against teams from over 20 countries, where they won a silver medal for their sculpture “Dreaming”.
After retiring from School teaching, he has maintained his passion for the Craft of Blacksmithing and continues to forge functional and sculptural ironwork in his workshop in the forest of the beautiful Bellinger Valley. Recently he has been involved in large scale collaborative public sculptures with overseas metal artists.
“Colin was amazing. Very clear instructions prior and during the course. Patient, supportive, incredibly knowledgeable- awesome.”
“Great ability to instruct novice students. Tremendous patience and knowledge. Great atmosphere in class.”
