"Wood, more than most materials, brings with it a rich emotional, romantic and even spiritual tradition. The tree as a symbol of beginning, strength and growth, and as a shrine to the gods of nautre is evoked as a contemporary image with no less fervour than it was by the ancients at the beginning of the 'tree of life' stories. Many who fashion in wood are still overwhelmed by this power, enshrining it in their work".
Helmut Lueckenhausen

From The Catalogue of the Victorian State Craft Collection
Melbourne: Meat Market Craft Centre, 1988

This building houses the Victorian State Craft Collection, representing six media: Ceramics, Fibre/Textiles, Glass, Leather, Metalwork/Jewellery and Wood. The Collection aimed to document the newest, experimental, and innovative areas in the crafts. It was not intended to be a static collection in that older works would be dispersed on permanent loan to other galleries and museums, and all pieces would be available for loan to touring exhibitions. Unfortunately funds have not been available to add to the collections in more recent years. For example, the last pieces were added to the Wood Collection in 1989. The Collection is still an impressive achievement but needs further acquisitions to be a true representation of the dynamic and ever-changing craft scene in Australia

Victorian Ash Table (1978)
Acquired from Distelfink Gallery, Hawthorn

DAVID CUMMING

Elm Wood Bowl (1978)
Acquired from the Royal Melbourne Show 1978 Award Exhibition

KEVIN GILDERS

Burl Bowl (1978)
Acquired from Royal Melbourne Show 1978 Award Exhibition

MARCUS GILLESPIE

Games Table (1978)
Acquired from the Meat Market Easter purchase exhibition

PIP GIOVANELLI

Leaf Chair (1986)
Acquired from Australian Crafts '87 Meat Market Craft Centre, with assistance from the Australia Council

Interstellar Platter 2 (1989)

CLINTON GREENWOOD

Sandwiched Form 5 (1980)
Acquired from the Centenary Celebration Exhibition, Meat Market Craft Centre

SALLY GUNNING

BOB HAMMERLY

Elm Bowl (1980)
Acquired from Centenary Celebration Exhibition, Meat Market Craft Centre

JIM HAMMERLY

Burl Bowl (1977)
Acquired from Clive Parry Galleries, Melbourne

Japanese Style Eating Utensils (1985)
Acquired from graduate exhibition, Prahran College of TAFE, with assistance from the Australia Council

GAY HAWKS

Van Diemen's Land - Bush Chair (1988)
Acquired with assistance from the Australia Council

GEORGE INGHAM

Dining Chair (1985)
Acquired from Chairs, Distelfink Gallery, Hawthorn with assistance from the Australia Council

Mahogany Chest (1983)
Acquired from The Craft Centre, South Yarra with assistance of the Australia Council

Wooden Bowls (1989)

Container with Stone (1982)
Acquired from Australian Crafts '82, Meat Market Craft Centre, with assistance from the Australia CouncilSide Table (1985)
Acquired from Australian Crafts '85, Meat Market Craft Centre with assistance from the Australia Council

Landscape 3 (1982)
Acquired from Anthony Pryor with the assistance of the Australia Council

Set of Spillikans (1985)
Acquired from Australian Craft '85, Meat Market Craft Centre, with assistance of the Australia Council

Eleven Canisters (1977)
Acquired from David Ralph

Hinged Space (1980)
Acquired from Inside Out, Meat Market Craft Centre

Two Lidded Containers (1982)
Acquired from Lynn Savery with assistance of the Australia Council

Garden Seat and Table (1982)
Acquired from Touchwood exhibition, Distelfink Galleries, Hawthorn with assistance of the Australia Council
Left Hand Desk (1989)

Low Table (1977)
Acquired from Alan West
VIC WOOD Quatro (1978)
Acquired from Vic Wood