Keeping the Craft Turning: A Look Inside the Woodturners Society of Queensland

For more than 40 years, the Woodturners Society of Queensland has been helping people discover the satisfaction of working with timber, learning new skills, and becoming part of a welcoming community of makers.

Based at 19 Pine Street, Greenslopes, the Society provides a safe, supervised workshop environment where members can learn, practise, and improve their skills in woodturning and other woodcrafts. While woodturning is at the heart of the organisation, members are also involved in box-making, pyrography, carving, toy-making, and other forms of creative timberwork.

The Society welcomes people at all stages of experience. Some members arrive with years of woodworking experience, while others are complete beginners who have never stood at a lathe. What they tend to share is a curiosity about timber, tools and making things by hand.

Woodturning itself is a craft with a long history, but it remains as engaging as ever. A simple piece of timber can become a bowl, pen, rolling pin, vase, cup, toy, decorative object or something entirely unexpected. Part of the joy is in the transformation. There is something deeply satisfying about taking rough material and shaping it into an object that is useful, beautiful or simply interesting.

At WSQ, learning happens in a practical and social way. Members can take part in supervised sessions, discuss ideas with others, learn from experienced turners, and build their confidence over time. The Society’s workshop includes access to equipment such as lathes, hand tools, saws, routers, sanding equipment and pyrography tools. Safety is an important part of the culture, with beginners supported to develop the right skills before working independently on machinery.

Beyond the technical skills, the Society also offers something just as valuable: connection. Like many community workshop groups, WSQ provides a place where people can come together, share knowledge, solve problems, have a chat, and enjoy the steady rhythm of making. For many members, the workshop is not only a place to build objects, but also a place to build friendships.

The Society’s activities extend well beyond individual projects. Members are encouraged to take part in competitions, demonstrations, community displays and major woodturning events. These opportunities help members keep learning, refine their craft, and share their work with the broader public.

One of WSQ’s much-loved community contributions is its Toy Group. Volunteers work together to make wooden toys for donation to charities and children in hospitals, with the group aiming to produce around 1,000 toys each year. Members can contribute in different ways, whether that means making toys from start to finish, sanding, painting or helping with the many practical steps involved. It is a strong example of how traditional craft skills can bring joy to others.

The Society also supports related crafts. The box making group gives members the opportunity to learn measuring, cutting, planing, sawing, routering and finishing techniques. Pyrography, the art of burning designs into timber, allows members to create detailed decorative work or enhance turned pieces. The carving group welcomes both beginners and experienced carvers, with projects ranging from simple spoons to decorative and therapeutic pieces.

For anyone who has ever thought about trying woodturning, the best way to understand the appeal is to see it in action. That opportunity is coming soon through the Wood&Craft Showcase 2026, hosted by the Woodturners Society of Queensland.

The Showcase will be held at the Belmont Shooting Complex from Friday, 29 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026. Visitors will be able to browse a wide range of handcrafted items, including turned timber pieces, pyrography, glasswork, jewellery and other craft work. There will also be woodturning demonstrations, hands-on “come and try” experiences, skilled artisans to talk to, food and drinks available at the café, and woodworking tools and timber from TG Creations and Carbatec.

The event is free to attend and is designed for everyone, from experienced makers and hobby woodworkers through to people who simply enjoy beautiful handmade work. It is also a good opportunity for anyone considering joining a community workshop, Men’s Shed, or craft group to see the benefits of learning alongside others.

At a time when many people are looking for practical hobbies, social connection and a break from screens, woodturning offers something refreshingly hands-on. It asks for patience, focus and care, but it also rewards creativity and persistence. Every finished piece carries the mark of the person who made it.

The Woodturners Society of Queensland continues to keep this craft alive by making it accessible, social and community-minded. Whether you are an experienced woodworker, a curious beginner, or someone looking for a meaningful way to spend time with others, WSQ offers a place to learn, contribute and create.

For more information about the Woodturners Society of Queensland, membership, workshops and upcoming events, visit wsqld.org.au.