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Jimmy Possum Chair Workshop

Australian Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades

Bradshaw Street,
Ballarat VIC 3350

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  • 1–4 Oct

9am–4pm

$1350 per person

Step inside the story of an Australian icon in this immersive four-day Jimmy Possum Chair workshop.

With rare behind-the-scenes access to historic Jimmy Possum chairs held in the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, study original examples, measure up your design, and learn time-honoured techniques using traditional materials, hand tools and methods. In an intimate group of just six participants, you'll shape, drill and assemble your own chair from start to finish.

Along the way, uncover the mystery of the Jimmy Possum chair, believed to have emerged in mid-19th-century northern Tasmania, crafted by an unknown bush carpenter and passed down through generations.

Simple, ingenious and unmistakably Australian, the Jimmy Possum chair's tapered legs pierce the seat to become arms and back, forming a rugged yet elegant design born of the bush.

Content: Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades

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Visitor Information Centres

Ballarat Town Hall
225 Sturt Street
Ballarat VIC 3350

Ballarat Botanical Gardens
401-405 Wendouree Parade
Lake Wendouree VIC 3350

Acknowledgement of Country

Across Victoria’s Midwest, we acknowledge that we travel across the ancient landscapes of many First Peoples communities. These lands have been nurtured and cared for over tens of thousands of years and we respect the work of Traditional Custodians for their ongoing care and protection.

We recognise the past injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. As our knowledge grows, we hope that we can learn from their resilience and creativity that has guided them for over 60,000 years. As we invite people to visit and explore Victoria’s Midwest, we ask that alongside us, you also grow to respect the stories, living culture and connection to Country of the Ancestors and Elders of our First Peoples.


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