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Handover fails, Bungendore Wood Works to close

Bungendore Wood Works’ David Mac Laren. Photo: Peter Hislop

After a failed changing-of-the-guard to hand over the running of Bungendore Wood Works, reported in September, retired artistic director and owner David Mac Laren is closing the gallery.

For more than 40 years, Bungendore Wood Works has been a mecca Australia’s finest woodworkers and artists.

Management of the Wood Works have now announced, “with deep appreciation and a heavy heart,” that the gallery will shut up shop in early June.

“After decades at the helm, artistic director and founder David Mac Laren OAM is ready for a well-deserved retirement,” they say.

“While he has explored succession options, sustaining a gallery of this scale has become increasingly challenging in today’s economic climate. Despite our best efforts, we have not found a viable path forward.”

 

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Helen Musa

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2 Responses to Handover fails, Bungendore Wood Works to close

Sue Pitman says: 28 March 2025 at 4:28 pm

Everyone deserves a happy, hopefully long retirement. Wishing David the very best for the future. So glad that we visited the gallery one final time on our recent trip back to Canberra from Adelaide. Our “Thicket” timber sculpture has travelled with us over many years and will continue to be a reminder of the excellence of the works at Woodworks.

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