General News
25 September, 2025
Maremma to be carved from wood
ONE of the world’s best chainsaw carvers is coming to Warrnambool.
Three-time Australian champion and internationally acclaimed carver, Rob Bast, will be the headline attraction at Flagstaff Hill’s Wreckfest Rare Trades Festival on November 2, where he will carve a Maremma dog out of a single block of wood, using about six different chainsaws.
“I saw the movie Oddball, so I know the story,” Rob said.
“To do a life-sized Maremma, it will probably take me most of the day. I might even have time to carve a couple of penguins as well.
“I have a friend who lives in Koroit, so I know a little bit about Warrnambool and I’ve been there a couple of times.
“Flagstaff Hill is a bit of a favourite.”
Bast has been chainsaw carving for over 20 years, and he said that it was something that people often needed to see to believe.
‘“I can’t believe you did that with a chainsaw’ is what I hear the most,” he said.
“I use power tools like die grinders and Dremels for doing the really fine detail, but 95 per cent of the work is done with a chainsaw.
“I really enjoy it and it’s always something pretty novel to people. They haven’t seen it before, or if they have, it’s usually been a while.”
He said his career highlights include an eight foot tall revenant character from the video game franchise DOOM, a full-sized Volkswagen Amarok ute, as well as an Aussie bush icon.
“I did The Man from Snowy River. I carved that at the Australian Championships in 2017 I believe, and that won me the Australian Championship and the People’s Choice,” he said.
“I was pretty proud of that one.”
As well as finding success in Australia, Rob has been lauded abroad for his skill with a chainsaw.
“I went to Germany to carve at the Husky Cup, which is one of the two biggest competitions in the world,” he said.
“The other big one in the world is the Chetwynd Championships in Canada. I’ve taken second and third there, and I’ve carved there four times.
“Canada and the States especially, their carving culture is pretty huge.”
He said that while reactions from humans across the globe were positive, dogs, on the other hand, sometimes had their suspicions.
“I carve a fair few dogs, and seeing the reactions from real dogs is pretty interesting,” he said.
“Whether they’re barking at it or growling at it, or they’re not quite sure and they’ll be sniffing at it.”
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain encouraged everyone to go along to see Rob and other makers in action.
“This will be the third year the Wreckfest Rare Trades Festival has run, and it’s shaping up to be another terrific event,” he said.
“Rob is an absolute master of his very rare craft – there are only about half a dozen full-time chainsaw carvers in Australia – so it will be a rare treat.
“Chainsaw carving and the other rare trades on display are great examples of where the process is just as amazing to witness as the finished product.
“You can really appreciate the skill and craftmanship when you can see how an item is made and have a conversation with the maker.”
Over a dozen rare trades will be on display including blade shearing, rope making, blacksmithing, whip plaiting, beekeeping, wheel making, cane fishing, rod making, glassblowing, signwriting, silversmithing, barrel making and hat making.
There will also be children’s activities and food vans on site.
The Wreckfest Rare Trades Festival will run from 9.30am-4.30pm.
As a special event, regular admission fees apply (no free Local Ambassador tickets).
For more information head to www.flagstaffhill.com.
