September 10, 2018
The derelict QRail site in Kingaroy will be converted into one of Queensland’s largest community woodworking complexes if the South Burnett Woodcrafters have their way.
The not-for-profit group, which was formed in 1993, celebrated its 25th birthday on Saturday with an Open Day at the former King Street freight depot.
The event featured woodworking displays, woodworking demonstrations and market stalls.
Visitors could also inspect the club’s new “Woodies Goodies” gift shop, which sells a wide range of wooden furniture and giftware crafted by club members.
President Dick Rasmussen said Saturday’s turnout was “better than expectations”, considering how many other events were being held around the region the same day.
“You know, we picked the date for our Open Day seven months ago,” Dick said.
“Who knew that everyone else would pick that date, too?”
All the same, he was still pleased with the way things worked out.
“The stallholders told us they did well on the day, and we had a big roll-up all morning which didn’t begin to slow down until about 1:30pm,” he said.
“We also signed up five new members.”
The club currently meets at their clubhouse behind Kingaroy’s Visitor Information Centre every Tuesday and Saturday from 8:30am to about noon.
It has male and female members ranging in age from teens to 90-year-olds, and its equipment includes a lathe, a band saw, a scroll saw, a router and an electric planer, as well as woodworking hand tools.
In January the group also took out a lease over the former QRail site, and plans to convert it into a modern woodworking complex over the next few years.
The new building would contain separate rooms for wood turning, carving, jointing, cabinetry, French polishing and finishing, plus a storage area to hold supplies.
Dick said the club estimates it will cost $200,000 to carry out the project, and hope to raise the funds through grants and community contributions.
The club has already made a start on beautifying the site.
Bunya Valley Land Care members recently planted gardens on the depot’s edges, and the woodcrafters have now opened a gift shop.
“Woodies Goodies was built entirely through our own work and community contributions,” Dick said.
“Dean Chesterton provided the shelving, Terry Fleischfresser supplied the paint, Russell Lebsanft did the painting and club members did the rest.”
Dick said the club welcomes Council’s plans to build a large, sealed car park behind the depot site as part of the Kingaroy revitalisation project.
They were also very positive about the South Burnett Rail Trail, which will bring a steady stream of tourists past the gift shop and new woodworking complex.
