Creative: Ken Savage carpenter, builder

Teacher (1961–1977), School Principal (1978–1994), Builder (1994–2005),  Hobby carpenter/renovator  (since 1947).

I have always been interested in carpentry and woodwork and was given my first carpentry tools at the age of seven and my initial project was to make a boat.  Little children’s tools are not very efficient but I persisted and managed to saw the corners off a piece of board and tack on some other bits, with the resulting craft looking a bit like the paddle steamers that I could see on the Murray River at Yarrawonga where I lived.  It floated, but upside-down!

Since early childhood, there have been many projects that have satisfied my creative urge. If I were to have an exhibition of work, some of my inclusions would be:

1947 Upside-down boat

1963 Children’s puppet theatre for Nerrena Primary School

1970 Backyard landscaping in Doncaster East

1971–1980 Restoration of a dilapidated structure in Surrey Hills that I transformed into our family home with a rather special cellar.

Empress Road 1971

Empress Road 1991

The cellar

1986 Dolls’ house No.1 (3 stories,8 rooms,switch on/off lighting) for daughter Heather aged 7

1984—1994 Sets for the annual school musicals at Balwyn Primary School

1984—2012 Structures on Lot 7

2010 Dolls’ house No.2 for grand-daughter Molly’s 6^th birthday.

Set for Balwyn Primary School Musical “The Cruel Sea”

The Town Band Cart for the musical “Molly Morgan” (Currently in Restorer’s Barn)

Doll’s House No 2

After retiring from teaching n 1994 I set up a renovations business with the name, Castles and Cubbies.  Only one cubby was built in that time but many larger projects were very satisfying for the creativity they required in devising a solution and the appearance of the final product.

The latest structure on Lot 7 is the cubby built for our visiting grandchildren.  With the exception of the roof and weatherboards, it is totally built from recycled materials.  The grand-daughters have  named it The Outback Cafe.  Should you call at meal times, you are likely to be offered mud tea and eucalypt seasoned rock cakes served at a little table on the balcony decorated with wattle and grasses.  Caution though, the prices have been known to be a bit steep.

The Outback Cafe