CREATIVE CUTS - The Montville Timber Trail Returns

There’s something unmistakably comforting about wandering through Montville – the scent of timber oil drifting from a shed door, the soft thrum of a lathe from somewhere up the hill, and the quiet sense that creativity has been living here a very long time. 

This May, during Horizon Festival, that feeling becomes something you can properly step into, as the Montville Timber Trail throws open studio doors, hallways and little tucked away workspaces across the village.

Over one slow, heart-filling weekend, visitors can meander between St Mary’s Hall, small galleries and homegrown workshops, to meet the makers who shape the Range in ways tourists rarely see. 

You’ll find hand carvers, turners, furniture designers and sculptors – some who’ve been here for decades, their craft shaped by the rhythms of the forest, and others who arrived more recently and fell hard for the mountain air, the timber and the sense of belonging Montville offers.

Chatting to them, you quickly realise timber isn’t just a material here. It carries storms, seasons, memories – rings of quiet history waiting for someone to coax out its next story. And these artisans do exactly that, with patience, humour, generosity and a deep respect for where the wood has come from. 

What makes the Timber Trail such a joy is its pace. Nothing asks to be rushed. You can linger over a sculptural piece, watch a demonstration, pick up a coffee on Main Street or simply sit under a tree while children try their hand at shaping their own small creations. It feels like the Montville many of us know and love: creative, welcoming, slightly whimsical and proudly connected to its community. 

Whether you’re a longtime hinterland local or making a weekend trip up the Range, the Montville Timber Trail offers a rare chance to step inside the creative heartbeat of the village. It’s not just about woodwork – it’s about the people, the stories and the landscape that hold this community together. 

Mark the weekend on your calendar and take your time. Montville always rewards those who wander slowly. 

View the full program and purchase early bird tickets at horizonfestival.com.au