A new woodworkers’ workshop was unveiled on Friday (13 May) at the Fiordland Vintage Machinery Museum (FVMM).

The brainchild of keen woodworker and long-time FVMM member, Max Slee, the 111m2 facility connects the museum’s blacksmith shop to its main building and is appropriately named “Max’s Woodwork Shed”.  

It is hoped the new fully equipped workshop will not only be used to restore the many wooden items in the community, but also help attract younger members.

Fiordland Vintage Machinery Museum president Kevin Christie cuts the ribbon on the club's new woodwork workshop. Photo: Supplied

“Max is into woodworking and has a few bits of machinery for working with wood, as do other members of the museum. Up until now we’ve been focusing solely on working with metal, restoring old farm machinery and vehicles. Diversification to woodwork will create new opportunities for our members and for community involvement,” FVMM president, Kevin Christie said.

“We hope that the opening of a working woodwork centre will facilitate community outreach where younger people can come to the museum and be tutored by experienced expert operator members. We see that as an important contribution we can make to the district,” Christie said. 

FVMM secretary/treasurer, Bob Anderson said that during the COVID-19 lockdown the museum had been reviewing its functionality and role.

“We want to take our museum in a new direction to engage even more with the wider community and with younger people. Our membership is aging, albeit gracefully. We have a huge amount of experience and mentoring ability available. The idea of a fully equipped woodwork workshop has met with excellent feedback and enthusiasm from community stalwarts such as Te Anau’s youth worker Dale Wairau,” Anderson said.

Located on the outskirts of Te Anau, the popular museum displays an extensive and growing collection of machinery including vintage tractors, trucks, farm machinery and road vehicles.

The museum is open daily, between 9am – 5pm.