As part of South Australia History Week 2010, the South Australian Maritime Museum has organised an exciting festival programme to celebrate traditional maritime trades.
The Festival of Maritime Trades will take place at the Museum on May 29 and 30. Master artisans will demonstrate their skills, tools and techniques and the philosophies of their crafts. Visitors will be able to see work at close hand and question some of the most accomplished traditional artisans in the State.
"We are thrilled to provide an opportunity to showcase so many rare maritime trades," South Australian Maritime Museum, Director, Kevin Jones said.
"The hand crafted timber, metal and fabric products are functional in design but as objects they are often more akin to works of art. We encourage everyone to come down and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional working port."
Master artisans working on the day are highlighted below.
Andrew Macfarlane's family has been building wooden boats in Port Adelaide since 1869 and has produced some of the most famous sailing craft in Australia. Mr Macfarlane recently moved his business from Port Adelaide's Jenkins Street to the new Marina Adelaide at Snowden's Beach. He will demonstrate how to caulk the seams of a timber boat using tools and techniques that are centuries old.
Barry Quin will demonstrate traditional sail making using hemp and canvas. His craft has been at the heart of shipping since ancient history. He will be accompanied by seafarers demonstrating the rope working craft that was once an essential skill of their trade.
John Yard from Goolwa may be the last practicing tinsmith in Australia. Mr Yard said that tinsmiths are called "fairy tappers" because they carefully shape metal with many small blows from hammers. For those of us from the age of plastic it is truly remarkable that Mr Yard can make many complex shapes from sheet metal. He has made round lights for Murray River craft, oil cans with delicate spouts and traditional lanterns. The last time Mr Yard demonstrated his skills in Port Adelaide the crew of the visiting ship 'Duyfken' (a replica of a Dutch ship from 1606) were so impressed by his skills that they commissioned lanterns for their vessel.
Darrel Thomson from Croydon Park is a master pattern maker. Mr Thomson sculpts timber into the complex shapes of an engine, a propeller or a set of gears. His hand-crafted timber pieces are then used to make moulds to cast the pieces in metal.
Pat Guilfoyle from O'Sullivans Beach and Bill Weste from Seacliffe Park will demonstrate their skills in building ship models. They are amongst the most skilled model makers in Australia. While the craft is best known as a hobby it has a clear place in the history of shipbuilding. Traditionally, models acted as plans and were built to guide boat builders and customers about what the ship might look like.
The South Australian Maritime Museum is located at 126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide, Australia.
Museum admission prices: Adult A$8.50, Child A$3.50, Concession A$6.50, Family A$22.
