Check out who is going to be there this year!

Prizes | Competition

Check out who is going to be there this year!

We are incredibly fortunate to have Silvio Apponyi appearing at this year’s Port Elliot Show. While Silvio is certainly one of the best carver/sculptors in Australia at the moment, there are some in the Australian Art world that consider him to be one of our country’s best kept secrets!

Silvio has had multiple commissions from every Australian government at the state and federal level, including work for Parliament House in Canberra. He pieces of public art adorn hundreds of cities and business foyers all over the world and his work is found in dozens of galleries across our state and beyond.

If that isn’t enough, Silvio was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2020 for ‘his service to the visual arts as a sculptor’, yet the majority of Australians don’t recognise his name.

Well, if his name is unfamiliar to you, his work certainly won’t be. If you need a local referent, how about the Whale-Tail fountain in Victor Harbor, or the Little Fairy Penguin bronzes on Granite Island at the end of the causeway, or the seal carved onto of one of those granite boulders at the water’s edge, about halfway between the causeway and the horse tram terminus.

Just this year Silvio completed a stunning 5 metre Southern Right Whale red gum sculpture of ‘Buttons’ and her calf ‘Bobby’ Buttons is a whale who has returned 3 times to our shores over the years, to give birth and raise calves in the local whale nursery off Basham’s beach. You’ll find the sculpture well worth a visit.

This year Silvio will be carving a variety of objects in the grassed court area next to the Woodwork (Michael Scott) pavilion. Come on out to the Show for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch a master of this calibre at work. Check out some of Silvio’s wonderful work here: apponyi.net/

Calling all woodworking enthusiasts and the local community!

Are you a woodworking enthusiast searching for the ultimate haven to nurture your craft? Look no further than Carbatec, Australia’s leading family-owned woodworking hand tools and machinery supplier. With our unwavering commitment to quality, expertise, and unmatched customer service, we have become the trusted name in the woodworking community.

As proud supporters of the Port Elliot Show, we are thrilled to provide the First Prize for all Woodwork Competition categories.

Visit the Carbatec marquee in the woodworking section and explore a world of craftsmanship with Carbatec’s diverse range of woodworking products – from glues to chisels—and see innovative workbenches and sharpening tools in action. Plus, enter the Carbatec raffle to win amazing prizes like a Laguna lathe, Carbatec air filter, and more! Tickets start at just $5, with all proceeds donated to the Victor Harbor Men’s Shed and Fleurieu turners.

Ready to take your woodworking endeavours to the next level?

Visit Carbatec – The home of woodworking at 27 Magill Rd, Stepney SA 5069 or explore our rich online store and discover a treasure trove of premium woodworking tools and machinery. For video tutorials, inspiration, and in-depth knowledge, head over to our YouTube Channel.

And for a glimpse into the world of woodworking trends and insights, our Home Page website is a must-visit. carbatec.com.au or www.facebook.com/Carbatec

We invite you to join us at the Port Elliott Show, where passion meets craftsmanship. Together, let’s carve a masterpiece that stands the test of time!

The Adelaide School of Woodwork began with Taylor, a passionate woodworker who believes in the joy of creating something meaningful with your hands. After years of working with wood, Taylor wanted to share that experience with others, leading him to start the school. His goal was simple: to make woodworking accessible and enjoyable for everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned woodworker.

Taylor’s vision goes beyond just teaching woodworking—it’s about creating a space where people can connect, learn new skills, and enjoy the satisfaction of making something real. From guiding beginners through their first project to helping experienced woodworkers refine their techniques, Taylor and his team are here to inspire and support.

A big part of our mission is introducing woodworking to the next generation. Our kids’ woodworking classes are designed to be fun, engaging, and educational, allowing children to explore their creativity while learning valuable skills. With hands-on projects and take-home kits, we’re making woodworking an exciting adventure for young makers.

In addition to our classes, we’re proud to be a growing retailer of quality woodworking tools and supplies. We’re here to help you every step of the way, from choosing the right timber to finding the best tools for your project. Whatever stage you’re at in your woodworking journey, we’re here to support you and help you bring your ideas to life.

At this year’s Port Elliot show, We’re running some mini maker sessions for the kids to come and give woodworking a go. As usual you can expect to see a great range of our favourite woodworking products, and we’ll be running free hands-on demonstrations as well.

To find out more about the Adelaide School of Woodwork and what they offer, visit them here: adelaideschoolofwoodwork.com.au

Tony Carbone has been a woodworker for decades, as a builder, a maker of wooden furniture and art and as a dedicated teacher of woodwork to kids in schools. Tony’s done it all.

This year Tony is bringing the culmination of all his experience to the Port Elliot Show in a range of top-quality wooden objects both beautiful and practical. Come and meet him and see the amazing range of special hand-made wooden cutting and presentation boards, carved art works and novelties. There almost certainly will be something there for you… and if not have a chat with Tony about a special commission piece just for you or that special someone.

Have a look at some of Tony’s work on his Facebook page.

Some say these guys are the inventors of ‘Power Carving’. They certainly have been a major force in bringing the art of woodcarving within the reach of thousands of aspiring wood artists and even professional woodworks and builders. The invention and manufacture of these unique Australian tools has revolutionised woodcarving, especially in Australia, where the beautiful but densely hard timbers once made working with conventional tools a long and arduous process.

In 1983, Kevin Inkster set out to create a sculpted wooden chair, playing around with the idea of fitting a crude disc attachment to his angle grinder instead of using a chainsaw. This has grown to the point that today, Arbortech is the world’s leading manufacturer of innovative tools, beloved the world over by those looking for function, inspiration or both.

As founder and CEO Kevin says, “Play is more important than work. If they can be the same thing, then that’s the perfect scenario.”

Come out and see the whole range of Arbortech woodworking tools demonstrated live by a group of really enthusiastic local wood artists. Have a chat with them and watch what they can do with these amazing tools. It might just get your own creative juices going!

Check out the company and its range of products here: arbortechtools.com

Otto Timber has been serving South Australia with timber and custom joinery for more than 100 years, as well as stocking a large range of specialty timbers.

Otto Timber continues to manufacture timber components for contemporary builds as well as traditional joinery such as windows and doors for many heritage projects.

Some of our joinery can be seen in Adelaide Town Hall (Blackwood Doors) and The Guardsman restaurant (Stained American Oak joinery).

Come out and meet the friendly team at the Show for some timber bargains or check out their website by clicking here to find out more: ottotimber.com.au

From humble beginnings Bushys Projects has turned from a fun hobby into a small family business.
Tom has combined his passion for forging creations with his passion for sharing his knowledge and skills, to create a blacksmithing experience where you can make some of our signature items or something of your own design. All of the materials ,safety gear and consumables are provided in our half or full day workshops. All you need to bring is a smile and a willingness to get stuck in. We will be showcasing our products at the show which are available for purchase and our workshops are available to purchase with the show day only discount.

Website: https://www.bushysprojects.com/blacksmith-experience
Instagram: instagram.com/bushys_projects

Fleurieu Woodturners was started in 2013 by Dennis Murray and Steve Franz to encourage woodturners on the Fleurieu Peninsula to improve their skills and knowledge. Since those days, the Club has broadened its skills base to include other woodcrafts such as carving, scroll sawing, pyrography and small joinery.

The Club is a warm and welcoming place. Membership includes all ages and upwards of 30% of the members are women. The Club is also focused on regular training of its members and includes markets and other events like the Port Elliot Show to give up-and-coming wood artists the chance to sell their creations in a safe and supportive environment.

The members will be demonstrating a variety of woodworking skills and there will be a wood art gallery on site in the Woodworking pavilion (Michael Scott building). If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at woodworking, come to the Show and have a chat with the team or watch them create wood art live on site. Or visit the gallery and buy that really unique special something for that one-of-a-kind special someone.

For more on the Club visit their website fleurieuwoodturners.org.au

The Encounter Community Centre is locally based in the Fleurieu Peninsula in beautiful Victor Harbor.  At the Encounter Community Centre our aim is to:-

• Provide a range of meaningful activities designed to meet the individual needs of people living with a disability and to other people in the southern Fleurieu area.
• Provide an exciting, positive community centre where people of all abilities and backgrounds can meet, learn new skills and find friendship and support from within their peer group.

Our Centre is proudly home to Fleurieu Potters, a retail plant Nursery, the Little Art and Craft Op Shop and the Wooden Toy Factory which is transitioning to the new  ‘Encounter Woodcraft Studio’ with a focus on made-to-order, high quality educational and nature play furniture and other resources for early childhood education. We understand that children require mental stimulation as well as having fun!  Our new range of educational wooden toys stimulate our children and provide them with skills to work through various tasks and achieve actual results.  Our sensory products teach children functional tasks as well as developing their four senses.  All Encounter Woodcraft Studio products are Hand Made by our skilled volunteers in quality Australian sustainably sourced timber and finished with natural water based paints and sealers.

Click here for a look at our range.

The Centre also offers a range of Community programs including for people living with a disability, providing support to increase social interaction and build skills to create more independence.

If you have an interest in our plant nursery, woodworking, painting or even marketing and sales we would love you to consider joining our team of volunteers.

Email admin@encountercentre.com.au or call 08 8552 2995 to find out more. Come visit us at the 2024 Port Elliot Show and look for us in the Woodwork pavilion.

Welcome to Chop It Axe Throwing Alley and games cafe, located in Victor Harbor, South Australia.

Chop It, brings the latest craze in axe throwing to the Fleurieu Peninsula, with this adrenaline-fueled activity guaranteed to get your heart racing – one throw and you’ll be hooked!

No experience? No problem! Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by one of their expert instructors who will take you through all safety procedures before you get started.
And when you need a break, their new food and drinks menu delivers the goods.
So why wait? It’s time to give boredom the chop and experience the excitement of axe throwing at Chop It.

You can book your visit or if you prefer, the gang at Chop It can bring the axe throwing to you with a four-lane mobile axe throwing set up available. They will supply everything you need at the outdoor location of your choice. An amazing and unique addition to a festival, birthday party, wedding, anniversary, reunion or any other outdoor event. Check out their stall in the Woodwork court of the Show this year or visit their website!

Pilot Plastics Co. was founded as a family-owned manufacturer in 1946 in the industrial district of lower Manhattan in New York City. The company designed, produced and marketed a line of unique, internally hand carved, costume jewellery, accessories, adornments and gift items, created from crystal clear sheets and blocks of solid acrylic plastics. This was a newly developed material at that time flooding the market as war surplus, after its use in the aircraft industry as gun turret domes on U.S. Air Force bombers during World War II.

The company’s product lines were based on the superb talents of two master carvers who produced all of the myriad of jewellery pieces, as well as the larger scenes and objects (floral and animal) in the larger items using palm-sized electric hand drills with bits not much thicker than sewing needles. Many of the special use drill bits were so unique and purpose-specific, they were not commercially available and were therefore hand made at the factory as they were needed.

These raw carvings, the ‘blanks’ as they were called, then had the small details hand painted and the voids filled with tinted Plaster of Paris, before most pieces had a thin, opaque back plate affixed. Each piece was then sanded and bevelled into its final shape and polished to its full lustre.

Though these pieces were made some 75 years ago they retain a surprisingly fine lustre and clarity, considering the tendency of clear acrylics to fade and discolour over time.

Every step of the production operation was done by hand, start to finish, and this unique line of jewellery and accessories was produced for several years, until the carvers retired, and the company moved into the advertising display design and production market.

This collection represents the remaining inventory of a unique family enterprise.

Chris Pinkster is a local legend on the South Coast, he has been known to create many wooden masterpieces from bespoke solid wood furniture, custom made joinery and unique timber kitchens.

He’s also had extensive experience building homes, from working with owner builders to create their dream home to guiding people through renovations and extensions.

As an environmentally conscious wood worker, he aims to source his wood from the local or surrounding Adelaide areas as much as possible. He spent a period of time salvaging trees and milling them up for use, this salvaged wood has now been air seasoned for nearly 10 years. Some of the salvaged timber includes:

Norfolk Island Pine, Cypress Macrocarpa, Silky Oak, Red Gum, SA Blue Gum and Sugar Gum to name just a few.

He is excited to share this timber collection and will be offering a selection of pre-made wood turning blanks and wood carving sections for purchase. Alongside these smaller pieces will be all sizes of natural edged slabs of wood.

As grandchildren came into Chris’s life, he designed a table and chair set that comes flat packed and is toddler friendly. These will be on display and available for sale.

Wooden box making kits are another feature of this display, which the budding craft person can take home to assemble.

To see some examples of his work visit: www.chrispinkster.com

The Outdoor Classroom is an artisan workshop specialising in producing sustainable quality wood and metal cooking products and teaching classes in traditional hand skills.

Jocelyn Grant is an Industrial Arts teacher with 30 years teaching experience in the Waldorf education system and has a trade certificate in wood turning. She is passionate about preserving traditional hand skills and crafts. Jocelyn teaches a number of wood and blacksmithing courses. These include traditional spoon carving and bowl carving using a shave horse and gouges and wood turning using a lathe. With her husband Andrew she also teaches blacksmithing using a traditional charcoal forge. Jocelyn teaches wood and blacksmithing courses for 12-year-old students to adults. Courses are set for Home Schoolers, School Holiday programs and Adults. The Adult classes are flexible and set when the participant is able to attend. The courses are for beginners, aimed at getting the student started with a new skill. During each course the student will complete a job to take home. Most courses are one day duration with the exception being children’s spoon and bowl carving courses that are split over two days.

Jocelyn and Andrew produce wood and metal cooking products using sustainably sourced timber. As part of their sustainable ethos they break down old wine barrels and reclaim the French Oak to make some of their wooden cooking utensils such as spoons, cheese knives and charcuterie boards. They also use sustainably grown pine in their kitchen products as is naturally anti-bacterial. Other sustainable sources of timber that they use are reclaimed wood from old furniture that would be dumped and arborists pruning’s that would be turned to mulch.

For course information and subscribing to the newsletter is on The Outdoor Classroom https://www.outdoorclassroom.com.au

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorClassroomAU

Born Again Barrels was started in 2020 as a hobby to reuse and upcycle retired wine barrels. We wanted to produce a better flowerpot, where most of the pots on the market were made quickly and cheaply. We decided to create a pot that is made to last, has more screws to hold it together, has been sanded and oiled. This drive for quality has seen the business grow from producing flowerpots to producing a large range of products from simple tealight candle holders to Dartboard cupboards. One of the products we are most proud of is our range of clocks, some made from barrel heads some made from staves.

With custom builds making a large part of our business feel free to contact us to discuss your idea for your outdoor bar or table. You can give us a call, send a text or an email or check out our social media.