COLERAINE BLACKSMITH SHOP TO FIRE UP AGAIN!

Important notice!

We have some exciting news to tell you about the future of the 140 year old Blacksmith Shop in Coleraine.

After extensive structural improvements to many parts of the building, reconstruction of both brick forges and a huge general cleanup, we are now ready to open on a regular basis.

From 8th July 2026, a Hamilton-based qualified blacksmith will be operating in our building on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. His name is Pete Green and he has been a part time blacksmith for many years and has conducted demonstrations in many parts of Western Victoria. He is very enthusiastic about this venture and is keen to attract visitors and students to Coleraine in a similar vein to Swan Hill, Echuca, Korumburra, Sovereign Hill, Angaston and other well known blacksmith tourist attractions.

We have conducted a large number of tours of this heritage listed building over the past two years and have created a great deal of interest in what we want to achieve within the wider region. The Shire of Southern Grampians has been very supportive of this project and have provided some funds to assist us with the major structural works.

In the short term, after we sort out a few teething problems, we will give a high priority to conducting general blacksmithing courses, knife making and potentially an axe head making course. We are told by people in this industry that there is a growing interest in the old lost trades, and this is backed up by the huge crowds that attend the Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo each year.

So – after being saved from demolition in 1985 (thank you Brian Coulson and others), with the help of many local volunteers we have finally made the old shop safe and serviceable for another 140 years. When you see the doors open, you are welcome to come in and see the latest business now operating in our great little village. See a real blacksmith at work and you may just think about purchasing something unique from a trade that has been around for over 4,500 years!!

John Kane & Warwick Brown, Co-owners    0437 001 240