Salvaged treasures - Craig Leiper

“Everyone knows now what I do, so if they’re pulling a shearing shed down they’ll give me a call and say, ‘come out and grab what you need.' I love the imperfections and the history behind the objects I find.”

Salvaged treasures

Ariah Park sculptor and furniture-maker Craig Leiper weaves history into his bespoke creations, turning scrapheap materials into objects of beauty.

Craig grew up in Ariah Park, spending his childhood playing in the bush and building cubbies with his mates. He moved to Deniliquin to complete an apprenticeship, then spent a decade working in the snowfields of Australia, Canada and Slovakia before the down to earth beauty of his home town beckoned. “My wife, Alicia, and I have two kids and one on the way, and I wanted them to have the life I had growing up.” When his father decided to sell the family home, Craig saw the opportunity and is now undertaking renovations to preserve the home he grew up in. A day job collecting wool for local wool brokers, Moses & Sons, allows Craig to indulge his passion for breathing new life into discarded material. “When I go on the farms to pick the wool up there’s often big scrapheaps,” he says. “I pick up pieces of timber, old fridges, barbed wire - all sorts of things. I usually give them a couple of beers or 50 bucks if it’s something cool. My shed’s full of interesting things - junk to some people!” “Everyone knows now what I do, so if they’re pulling a shearing shed down they’ll give me a call and say, ‘come out and grab what you need.' I love the imperfections and the history behind the objects I find.” Craig’s artistic career began when his mother-in-law wanted some barb wire balls for her garden. “I didn’t want her to have to buy barbed wire balls so I thought I’d have a go at making them and it just went from there,” Craig says. “I’ve always liked making things - especially with wood - so it felt natural. People order things and I just have a crack at them.” “The best part is, I know where every piece of timber that I use comes from, who gave it to me, the history behind it.” Some of his creations include wine fridges, furniture, barbed wire balls and intricate sculptures made from scrap metal. Like most buildings in Ariah Park, Craig’s display space has a rich and colourful history. “This was built in 1906 to be used as a greengrocer and butcher’s shop,” he says. “In the 40’s it became a bicycle shop and the owner was a gambler who was into some pretty underground stuff. He built a secret escape hatch, which is still here now!” “Moses & Sons bought the building ten years ago and they allow me to use it to display my work. Eventually, I’ll have a storefront display of my work.” Craig is part of a group of Ariah Park residents who have returned home with their young families, eager to start creative projects in the town and make the most of its extraordinary history. “We all went to preschool and school together and now our kids are at school together,” he says. “There are about 20-30 people my age with young families, and we’ve all got ideas!”

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