Come and learn traditional timber framing at Montsalvat using posts and beams milled from trees planted by its founders.
In this 3 day course Lachlan Park (Newstead Wood School) and Lena Skipper (Eltham based carpenter), will guide students through the basics of Traditional Timber Framing. Using hand and power tools to cut pegged mortise tenon joinery in freshly sawn ‘green’ timbers. Their extensive knowledge will help you develop the skills to one day construct your own traditional timber frame building.
Montsalvat is an artistic community spanning nine decades of continuous creative practice.
Established in 1934, Montsalvat has fostered a deeply connected creative community and provided thousands of painters, sculptors, musicians, writers, philosophers, poets and other makers with the time, space and support to further their creative practice.
www.montsalvat.com.au - Eltham, Victoria, Australia.
3 days (10am - 4pm)
$1,350
4 places available
Next course;
August 14th - 16th 2026
What to expect;
A truly hands on experience, working with large section timbers in the inspiring outdoors environment of Montsalvat. Using hand tools such as chisels and handsaws students will receive one to one education from their tutors
Learning outcomes;
Timber Sourcing and Selection - How large section timbers are sourced, sawn and selected for Traditional Timber Framing.
Laying and Marking Out - how to arrange timbers and apply reference lines from which the joinery can be marked out
Pegged Mortise and Tenon Joinery - What is it, how does it work and how to achieve accuracy with Mortise and Tenon Joinery.
Hand Tools - How to safely use tools such as handsaws, chisels and drawknives and more importantly how to achieve and maintain sharpness.
Wooden Pegs - splitting, shaping and fitting pegs or ‘tree nails’ to mortise and tenon joints.
Frame Raising - How to prepare and plan for a ‘Barn Raising’, and safely execute the assembly of a Traditional Timber Frame.
Disclaimer;
This course will be held outside in the grounds of Montsalvat, and is thus at the mercy of the weather. If inclement weather is forecast or unavoidable then course day/s will be re-scheduled. We will do our best to manage this and provide prior communication to students.
Cancellation Policy;
A course booking may be cancelled up to 2 weeks prior to the scheduled course date and full refund received, minus a cancellation fee of $50. If a cancellation is made within two weeks then a 50% refund is offered. If you have any questions please make contact and we will do our best to accomodate your situation.
Come and learn traditional timber framing at Montsalvat using posts and beams milled from trees planted by its founders.
In this 3 day course Lachlan Park (Newstead Wood School) and Lena Skipper (Eltham based carpenter), will guide students through the basics of Traditional Timber Framing. Using hand and power tools to cut pegged mortise tenon joinery in freshly sawn ‘green’ timbers. Their extensive knowledge will help you develop the skills to one day construct your own traditional timber frame building.
Montsalvat is an artistic community spanning nine decades of continuous creative practice.
Established in 1934, Montsalvat has fostered a deeply connected creative community and provided thousands of painters, sculptors, musicians, writers, philosophers, poets and other makers with the time, space and support to further their creative practice.
www.montsalvat.com.au - Eltham, Victoria, Australia.
3 days (10am - 4pm)
$1,350
4 places available
Next course;
August 14th - 16th 2026
What to expect;
A truly hands on experience, working with large section timbers in the inspiring outdoors environment of Montsalvat. Using hand tools such as chisels and handsaws students will receive one to one education from their tutors
Learning outcomes;
Timber Sourcing and Selection - How large section timbers are sourced, sawn and selected for Traditional Timber Framing.
Laying and Marking Out - how to arrange timbers and apply reference lines from which the joinery can be marked out
Pegged Mortise and Tenon Joinery - What is it, how does it work and how to achieve accuracy with Mortise and Tenon Joinery.
Hand Tools - How to safely use tools such as handsaws, chisels and drawknives and more importantly how to achieve and maintain sharpness.
Wooden Pegs - splitting, shaping and fitting pegs or ‘tree nails’ to mortise and tenon joints.
Frame Raising - How to prepare and plan for a ‘Barn Raising’, and safely execute the assembly of a Traditional Timber Frame.
Disclaimer;
This course will be held outside in the grounds of Montsalvat, and is thus at the mercy of the weather. If inclement weather is forecast or unavoidable then course day/s will be re-scheduled. We will do our best to manage this and provide prior communication to students.
Cancellation Policy;
A course booking may be cancelled up to 2 weeks prior to the scheduled course date and full refund received, minus a cancellation fee of $50. If a cancellation is made within two weeks then a 50% refund is offered. If you have any questions please make contact and we will do our best to accomodate your situation.