Melbourne
Woodworking Courses
A space to create and learn all things woodworking in a supportive environment. We offer woodworking short courses and weekly term classes.
Learn
new skills
Learn new skills
Create beautiful
furniture and objects
out of wood
Create beautiful furniture and objects out of wood
Develop a new
hobby
Develop a new hobby
Who are our courses for?
Beginner woodworkers
looking to try something new
Home woodworkers
looking to improve their skills
Looking for a new Hobby
seeking hands-on experience
Experienced woodworkers
seeking to expand their knowledge and skills
Course offerings
Beginner Woodworking – Make Your Own Side Table with Rob Fabris (4 day) – $1300
Join Rob Fabris for this four-day project-based introduction to furniture making course for beginners with a maximum of 6 students. Rob will introduce you to the fundamentals of joinery and woodwork through the process of making a small side table.
Beginner Woodworking – Box Making with Remy Tramoy (1 day) – $475
Join Remy Tramoy for this one-day course for beginners. As one of only 5 students, you will be introduced to the process of box making using traditional techniques. The course focuses on developing hand skills.
Furniture Restoration with Ben Hodgetts (2 day) – $650
Join Master Restorer, Ben Hodgetts for this two-day Furniture Restoration intensive. You will work on your own period or modern furniture / items and learn the techniques required to bring them back to life.
Introduction to Hand & Power Tools for Home DIY with Andrew Fabris (1 day) – $400
Are you a Home DIY enthusiast looking to enhance your skills or learn the fundamentals of hand and power tools? Join Andrew Fabris, “Master Carpenter”, for this one-day hands-on course with a Home DIY focus. You will be guided through the proper and safe use of various hand and power tools.
Beginner Woodworking – Veneering Techniques with Rob Fabris (2 day) – $750
Join Rob Fabris for this two-day hands-on course suitable for beginners and learn the fundamentals of veneering. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the materials, tools and techniques.
Introduction to Straw Marquetry with Tracey Malady (2 day) – $750
Prepare to be inspired and captivated by the beauty of Straw Marquetry. You will learn step-by-step techniques to create geometric patterns using this unique natural medium. This course is suitable for beginners and all tools and materials are supplied.
Wood Finishing – Introduction to timber finishing using VOC Free Hard Wax Oils & Natural Timber Oils with Richard Lloyd (1 day) – $295
Join Richard Lloyd for this one-day introduction to timber finishing course using environmentally friendly VOC free hard wax oils and natural timber oils. You will have the opportunity to practice applying these finishes using various techniques.
Weekly Term classes
(Work on your own project at your own pace)
8 weeks x 4 hrs in the morning
8 weeks x 3.5 hrs in the afternoon
8-10 weeks x 3 hrs in the evening
About us
We are Rob & Kym Fabris, owners of Melbourne Woodworking Courses. With our extremely knowledgeable and amazingly skilled Instructors, most with over 20 years experience in their field – Rob Fabris, Andrew Gibbs, Carl Lutz, Bruce Moonie, Leslie Jones & Chris Maruca – offer weekly term classes, where you get to work on your own project at your own pace under the guidance of a professional furniture maker instructor and hands-on woodworking short courses on weekends, evenings and term breaks. Our short course instructors are, Rob Fabris, Ben Hodgetts, Remy Tramoy, Richard Lloyd and Andrew Fabris. Come and join our community of woodworkers, meet new people and learn new skills.
Our team
Rob Fabris
Andrew Gibbs
Ben Hodgetts
Carl Lutz
Bruce Moonie
Leslie Jones
Chris Maruca
Remy Tramoy
Richard Lloyd
Tracey Malady
Andrew Fabris
Testimonials
Ground Floor/6 Rowern Court, Box Hill North
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What an unexpected delight. Recently a weekend opened up and I was able to secure the last place in the inaugural introductory straw marquetry course held … More at MWC. The course tutor shared her expertise from the outset, encouraging a very hands-on approach, such that the second day was spent on each student's own design. The reward for me was not only a sense of achievement but the confidence to continue to grow in experience on my own in the weeks ahead. Highly recommended.
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The restoration course was brilliant, all hands on and no time wasted in theory lessons. Ben is very knowledgeable and passionate, I learned a lot in two … More days. I also had a lot of fun and I hope to go back again soon!
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I had a great time on the Make Your Own Side Table course held over two weekends. Rob was an engaging tutor who adapted to the varying levels of skill … More and experience in the class. He took the time to explain methods in detail, often giving both a hand and power tool demonstration. Rob also gave plenty of hints and tips throughout.
The class size was small, only 5, and that helped to create a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Overall I couldn't rate this course, or the team at Melbourne Woodworking Courses, more highly. Thank you! -
The course was an enormously informative experience, coupled with wonderful people and a great tutor. It was well worth attending.
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I did the box making class and it was fantastic, not only did I make a box but I learnt other tips and tricks along the way. The people are really friendly … More and knowledgeable, I’d recommend.
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This course was brilliant, it was presented in an engaging manner where the participants were able to apply finishes in various manners and see the impact. … More We even were able to take the samples home so we could appreciate how some finishes develop over time.
Richard engaged with all of the participants and delightfully answered any and all questions. It was a bonus to have Rob there as well to show us around their brilliant facilities. For any wood worker their setup at Melbourne Woodworking Courses is like an Aladin's cave. I have already signed up for their make your own Side Table and will be keeping an eye out for other courses in the future.
This is a wonderful business that I would highly recommend. -
I attended Andrew Gibbs' tutor groups for a number of years and found them to be fantastic. Andrew is a teacher extraordinaire - hugely experienced, … More and always helpful, encouraging and supportive. I can't recommend him highly enough. Andrew is supported by Rob and Kym who work tirelessly to provide the very best learning environment. Happy and rewarding times. Rob Francis
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The veneering course was most interesting and highly informative. Rob's veneer knowledge and process to work with it is very impressive. Great course … More and extremely highly recommended if undertaking projects where veer would add value.
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The box making course with Remy was absolutely brilliant. Booking and communication with the company was flawless and easy. My final product looked great … More thanks to a small helpful class and a lot of one-on-one guidance from the instructor. The venue was very clean and well equipped, thus everyone had their own bench and tools provided.
Highly recommend and looking forward to doing another course! -
Furniture Restoration Course
Great "Furniture Restoration Course " which was very well organised in a spacious, clean woodworking factory environment. … More
Master and respected restorer, Ben Hodgetts provided a very interesting and informative program for our hands on restoration projects.
This was a very well structured 2-day program which provided knowledge and inspiration. My 4 pieces of furniture comprised of a 3 draw French Biedermeier chest of draws, English oak pot cabinet from the early 1900s, early Australian blackwood pedestal and a Danish mid-century side table.
The workshop was outstanding as Ben guided us through our projects with his expert knowledge, anecdotes and tips in a passionate and fun working environment.
I can highly recommend this course to anyone interested in restoring pieces of furniture which have been passed down or acquired over the years in need of some care and attention.
Ben's enthusiasm to transfer his knowledge in a relaxed and entertaining way makes this course one of the best I have ever attended.
James -
For my first piece of fine furniture, I decided to reproduce a wooden wheel barrow I had allow to fall to bits in my garden.
I did not realise how something … More so seemingly simple and easy was actually extremely complex and difficult.
Thus I learned a great deal about thinking before even beginning to designing a piece and how it will go together.
Some people, not now with Melbourne Woodworking, were heard to mutter that it was not fine woodwork.
Rob reassured me, when I was well into the project and committed emotionally and financially, that what I was doing was as difficult as a chair. Indeed a fine piece of wood working.
As it turned out and after approx 2 years including Covid, I have finally finished and am very pleased with the outcome.
I am very grateful for Rob's teaching, advice and encouragement though out my long project.
I think I'll be making a tray next.. -
I have been attending daytime classes for over a year now and have to say that I look forward to the beginning of each term. I have had the same Tutor, … More Andrew Gibbs during this time. Andrew is a seasoned wood worker who is extremely patient and has a very approachable nature. His knowledge base is vast and his guidance through the many facets needed to complete a project makes the whole experience very enjoyable. Andrew has the qualities of a fine teacher who has that rare gift of instilling confidence to students such as myself who have not picked up a Wood Plane since the High school days of the seventies!
The classes are small enough so that everyone has good access to all the tools and machinery needed. My fellow students are also very friendly and helpful and the whole environment makes learning woodworking so much fun. I especially look forward to the coffee break and getting to know my fellow students. It’s a nice social environment. Rob and Kym who run the whole show make you feel very welcomed.
If you want to learn the woodworking skills needed to complete the projects that you have always dreamed of doing, no matter your level of competence, then I can highly recommend Melbourne Woodworking Courses. It’s a fun place with great people! -
Rob Fabris is a fantastic tutor with a broad knowledge of traditional and contemporary woodworking techniques. With his assistance I have completed several … More different pieces. Friends and family are astounded by the quality of the output, particularly given I had very little experience with woodworking prior to joining Rob's class.
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Im one of Andrew Gibbs many loyal students. Whether teaching beginners or the most accomplished, Andrew offers expert, constructive teaching and has a … More great eye. He is also a kind man, thoughtful and with a good sense of humour. He sets the tone for a professional but happy morning, and I think we all feel like that!
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I joined a morning tutor group led by Bruce Moonie. I was a complete novice. Bruce took me through my initial project, a side table, helping me with techniques, … More design and the use of the right tools for the job. He also taught me how to fix my numerous mistakes. At all times the emphasis was on quality and safety.
Bruce has a warm friendly personality, a wealth of knowledge and gift for teaching.
