See & do

01 Sep 24

Coming up at Ballarat’s Rare Trades Centre

Rare Trades Centre

Learn something new while preserving something old at Ballarat's Australian Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Known as the Rare Trades Centre for short, the attraction shines a light on contemporary trade and craft practices that derive from historic or artisan trades.

Help conserve Australia's rare trades by signing up for one of the centre's experiential workshops with world-leading practitioners.

Summer

Thumbnail for Long Bow Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Long Bow Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17–19 Jan

Thumbnail for Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Basic Armouring Workshop

Basic Armouring Workshop

Ballarat18 Jan, 24 May + more

Thumbnail for Ring-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ring-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Buckled Leather pouch Workshop

Buckled Leather pouch Workshop

Thumbnail for Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb, 26 Apr + more

Thumbnail for Introduction to Dry Stone Walling at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Dry Stone Walling at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb, 9 Feb + more

Thumbnail for Hand-forming Table Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Hand-forming Table Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 17 May

Thumbnail for Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 18 Oct

Thumbnail for Limestone Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Limestone Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Sailors Ditty Bag Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Sailors Ditty Bag Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Rigid Heddle Workshop Scarf-making at the Rare Trades Centre

Rigid Heddle Workshop Scarf-making at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb, 3 May + more

Thumbnail for Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb & 7 Jun

Thumbnail for Intermediate Dry Stone Walling Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Intermediate Dry Stone Walling Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 & 9 Feb

Autumn

Thumbnail for Leather Plaiting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Leather Plaiting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat14–16 Mar

Thumbnail for Copper Serving Utensil Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Copper Serving Utensil Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Blacksmithing Tools Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Blacksmithing Tools Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat15 & 16 Mar

Thumbnail for Hand Caning Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Hand Caning Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Introduction to Lino Printing at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Lino Printing at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Mar, 7 Jun + more

Thumbnail for Spoon Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Spoon Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat5 Apr & 16 Aug

Thumbnail for Silversmithing Cuttlefish Casting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Silversmithing Cuttlefish Casting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Knifemaking (Sloyd Knives) Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Knifemaking (Sloyd Knives) Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat12 Apr, 13 Apr + more

Thumbnail for Learn to Spin at the Rare Trades Centre

Learn to Spin at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat5 Apr, 9 Aug + more

Thumbnail for Beginner Sewing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Beginner Sewing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat12 & 13 Apr

Thumbnail for Photogravure Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Photogravure Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat12 Apr, 13 Apr + more

Thumbnail for Viking Spear Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Viking Spear Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Discover SAORI Weaving at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb, 26 Apr + more

Thumbnail for Introduction to Paper Cutting at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Paper Cutting at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Basics of Screenprinting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Basics of Screenprinting Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat4 May, 10 Aug + more

Thumbnail for Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Bobbin Lace Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 17 May

Thumbnail for Locksmithing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Locksmithing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 May & 8 Nov

Thumbnail for Natural Dye Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Natural Dye Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 & 18 May

Thumbnail for Solander Style Box Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Solander Style Box Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Woodcarving 101 Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Woodcarving 101 Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Metal Etching and Coptic Stitching Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Metal Etching and Coptic Stitching Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Introduction to Indigo Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Indigo Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat24 May & 15 Nov

Thumbnail for Relief Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Relief Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Norse Inspired Cuffs Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Norse Inspired Cuffs Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 May & 26 Jul

Thumbnail for Norse Inspired Amulets and Adornment Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Norse Inspired Amulets and Adornment Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 May & 26 Jul

Thumbnail for 3D Wooden Animal Carving at the Rare Trades Centre

3D Wooden Animal Carving at the Rare Trades Centre

Winter

Thumbnail for Beginner Entomology Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Beginner Entomology Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat7 Jun & 8 Nov

Thumbnail for Introduction to White Coopering Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to White Coopering Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat7 Jun, 8 Jun + more

Thumbnail for Introduction to Lino Printing at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Lino Printing at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Mar, 7 Jun + more

Thumbnail for Boot-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Boot-making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat19–22 Jun

Thumbnail for Cane Rod Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Cane Rod Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat19–22 Jun

Thumbnail for Coiled Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Coiled Basketry Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Intermediate Sewing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Intermediate Sewing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat28 & 29 Jun

Thumbnail for Boxed Frame Lamp Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Boxed Frame Lamp Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat12 & 13 Jul

Thumbnail for Felt Hat Making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Felt Hat Making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Wet Felt Flower Making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Wet Felt Flower Making Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Beginner Embroidery Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Beginner Embroidery Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Learn to Spin at the Rare Trades Centre

Learn to Spin at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat5 Apr, 9 Aug + more

Thumbnail for Spoon Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Spoon Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat5 Apr & 16 Aug

Thumbnail for Norse Inspired Cuffs Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Norse Inspired Cuffs Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 May & 26 Jul

Thumbnail for Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Earrings Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat8 Feb & 7 Jun

Thumbnail for Armour-Smithing Workshop (Arm Harness)

Armour-Smithing Workshop (Arm Harness)

Ballarat28 Jun, 29 Jun + more

Spring 2025

Thumbnail for Leather Gaiters Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Leather Gaiters Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Thumbnail for Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Introductory Blacksmithing Workshop at Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat22 Feb & 18 Oct

Thumbnail for Relief Carving Masterclass at the Rare Trades Centre

Relief Carving Masterclass at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat18 & 19 Oct

Thumbnail for Netsuke Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Netsuke Carving Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat7–9 Nov

Thumbnail for Locksmithing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Locksmithing Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat17 May & 8 Nov

Thumbnail for Introduction to Indigo Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Indigo Workshop at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat24 May & 15 Nov

Thumbnail for Introduction to Wood Turning at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Wood Turning at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat9 Feb & 12 Oct

Summer 2025/26

Thumbnail for Introduction to Wood Turning at the Rare Trades Centre

Introduction to Wood Turning at the Rare Trades Centre

Ballarat9 Feb & 12 Oct

Thumbnail for Leather Cuff and Belt Workshop

Leather Cuff and Belt Workshop

Ballarat6 Dec 25

More inspo

Thumbnail for Continuing the tradition of rare trades

Continuing the tradition of rare trades

Thumbnail for Behind the scenes with Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat

Behind the scenes with Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat

Makers & growers

Thumbnail for 5 distilleries you must visit in the Ballarat region

5 distilleries you must visit in the Ballarat region

Thumbnail for The pasta master – chef Dona

The pasta master – chef Dona

Makers & growers