THE BLACKSMITHS

                                                                                                                                                                                       photo by Sue Daley

Blacksmithing has been at the 'molten core' of Ironfest since the very beginning, when Harry Piers, a Central West artist/blacksmith, first demonstrated ancient skills with his forge at Ironfest in 2000.

At the same time, well-known local regional artist/blacksmith, Dave Sherlock, exhibited hand forged work for sale at the first Ironfest.

The Hall of Industry is the Ironfest engine room where coins have been smelted; knife-making, chain-mail making and bio-diesel making workshops have taken place.

Each year more and more blacksmiths come to Ironfest, often travelling large distances, to exhibit work for sale, to demonstrate, and/or to take part in competitions or working bees.

This year over 20 blacksmiths are expected to once again take part, putting maximum effort into turning iron into art. However, the event will have a slightly different format to those events of the past.

Instead of staging competitions, the blacksmiths will be working co-operatively to build security grates for the new Ironfest Ticket Office (a converted shipping container to be found just outside the Ironfest Main Gate).

This will be the first small step in the ‘Lithgow: City of Bridges’ Project designed to beautify with traditional hand-forged balustrading the numerous existent bridges around Lithgow, that either cross over the railway or Farmers Creek. Centennial Coal is a supporter of this project. (More details to be announced here soon.)

There will be continuous blacksmithing action taking place over the two days in the ‘Hall of Industry’.

Work by Phil Johnston and Forgemasters

     

play Hammertong (2.55mins) by Rev Mut
created using found sound from Ironfest 2002

The History of Metal Working in Lithgow

Lithgow is the birthplace of steel in Australia, and has a long

history of excellence in working with metals.

At one time there were three iron smelters and two
copper smelters in operation in the Lithgow Valley alone.
Blacksmiths of all kinds numbered in the hundreds.

Even today, when blacksmiths are an endangered species
around the country, the Lithgow Region can still count the
number of working blacksmiths in the dozens.

A piece of smithing history from 1698, presented by Ray Sherwin

PRESENTING: GRAHAM ASKEW'S MINI HALL OF FAME (as featured at Ironfest 2011)
(Located just in front of the Hall of Industry)

If you missed this fantastic collection of unique ironwork and tools made by farmers and blacksmiths, in their time of need, keep an eye out for a similiar display at Ironfest 2012.

Hear Graham talk about the items he has collected together over the last 40 years on his journeys all around Australia.

State Mine Museum resident artist blacksmith Phil Spark at work
www.statemine.org.au

Dave Sherlock from Coolah demonstrating traditional blacksmithing techniques at Ironfest

Peter Wherrit demonstrating at Ironfest

Glenn Moon hard at work in the Hall of Industry

Armando Djuric (right) from Richmond TAFE discussing the Blacksmith Competition at Ironfest
click for Tafe blacksmithing and metalwork workshops info

Doug Moseley & his wife Myra (in background) at Ironfest
www.dougmoseley.com

Wayne Saunders at his forge
www.ironlordforge.com

Ray Gard showing some fine points
www.ravenforge.com.au

Graham Askew exhibiting at Ironfest

Visit the following sites for more information on blacksmithing:

Wikipedia
Ironfest USA
Talisman Gallery
State Mine Museum
AnvilFire
A Gallery of Early Blacksmithing
Ironlord Forge
The Australian Blacksmiths Association Victoria
The Tree Project
Peel River Blacksmiths
Professional Farriers