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Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades acknowledges the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live and work on Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge their unceded sovereignty over Wadawurrung Country, and the ongoing hardship and trauma as a result of colonisation. The history and continuous culture of the Wadawurrung people is an important part of our shared story.

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Rare Trades Centre05 11 22 23

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Which workshops are you interested in?

Dry Stone Waller
WORKSHOP STYLE Mindful, hands on, practical.
EMMA SAYS: Dry stone walling depends on the ancient techniques of engaging stones together through gravity and friction. It’s a practice that goes back tens of thousands of years, which means when I’m working on a wall it’s at the same pace people have worked for the whole of time.
Dry stone walling uses natural material in natural environments working together in harmony to make something that will be timeless, ageless, practical and beautiful. 
WE SAY: Emma Knowles is an accomplished artisan and advocate for her rare trade. She is one of only six DSWA UK Advanced level female dry stone wallers in the world; has completed a fellowship with the International Specialised Skills Institute and is a founding member of the Women’s International Stone Alliance. In 2017, she established her own dry stone walling enterprise, Stone of Arc and has since worked on restorations, and commissions in both Australia and the UK. Emma is a qualified trainer and teaches traditional dry stone walling at all levels.

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The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades - 383 – 389 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat VIC 3350

Introduction To Building A Dry Stone Wall

Learn the art of dry stone walling with DSWA Great Britain accredited instructor, Emma Knowles. 
 
In this 2-day workshop, you will work as a team with other workshop participants to build a small section of wall using traditional dry stone walling 
techniques under the guidance of your instructor. 
 
You will learn about tools, planning and design, types of stone, selecting the appropriate stones for your build, creating a wall foundation, and 
deconstructing and re-constructing sections of an existing dry stone wall. 
 
You will gain the knowledge and skills to commence a basic private project and pursue further learning.

Emma Knowles

Intermediate Dry Stone Walling – Cheekends

Learn the art of dry stone walling with DSWA Great Britain accredited instructor, Emma Knowles. 
 
In this 2-day workshop, you will work as a team with other workshop participants to build a small section of wall using traditional dry stone walling 
techniques under the guidance of your instructor. 
 
You will learn about tools, planning and design, types of stone, selecting the appropriate stones for your build, creating a wall foundation, and 
deconstructing and re-constructing sections of an existing dry stone wall. 
 
You will gain the knowledge and skills to commence a basic private project and pursue further learning.