Huon Pine, Blackwood, Tasmanian Oak and brass - the birth of a masterpiece

A Master Craftsman

During my time with the Australian Antarctic Program, I have never ceased to be amazed at the talent, dedication and creativity of our people. Whether it’s work or recreation, the commitment to high standards is there.

Will, our Fitter and Turner, on his third season with the AAP, is a true master craftsman. I didn’t really understand what a Fitter and Turner did until I came to Antarctica. This highly skilled trade manufactures and assembles all manner of things to keep our stations running. They use a range of equipment such as lathes, grinders and welding gear and fix or create pretty much anything. If the mixer in the kitchen breaks, they put it back together, if you need a bespoke steel bracket or frame, they make it. Will has left his mark all around station with lots of beautifully crafted solutions.

Perhaps my favourite though is the chess set he has been carefully creating in his spare time. A true work of art taking around 200 hours of Will’s time. This one of a kind chess set has Tasmanian Oak sides, Huon Pine for the light wood squares and Blackwood for the dark squares.

The actual pieces themselves have wooden bases topped with machined brass caps, each carefully worked to create pawns, castles, horses, bishops, queens and kings. There are brass inlays around the main board, an engraved plaque on the front and an etched map of Macquarie Island on the cover with inlays showing each of the main huts.

The board has been treated with a surfboard epoxy resin which beautifully reflects the light and showcases the colours of the wood.

Pictures speak louder than words so I hope you enjoy the accompanying pictures that show the journey of this chess-set and the final piece of art.

Karen Pye, Station Leader

Squares of light and dark wood laid out to start the assembly of a chessboard
Two yellow clamps holding the dark and light wooden squares together that make up the chessboard.
The almost completed chess board with blue painters tape around the edges to allow the application of epoxy resin to the wooden surface.
A length of square shaped Huon Pine sits in a lathe with some machining having commenced at the top end to create the beginnings of a chess piece.
An almost completed pawn made from Huon Pine sits in the lathe
A wooden drawer containing many of the wooden bases (dark and light) that make up the pieces of a chess set.
A brass plaque engraved with the words, "Made on Macquarie Island 2025".
A map of Macquarie Island etched into a piece of wood with inlays showing where the main huts are located.
The sun reflects of the smooth surface of the light and dark squares of a chess board. The board is covered in a smooth epoxy resin.
An overhead view of the completed chess board - squares of dark and light wood surrounded by brass inlays.
A round inset brass handle set into a wooden drawer face for opening the bottom drawer of the chess-set.
A partially opened drawer of a chess-set showing the dark wooden bases of several chess pieces.
A close-up picture of the dark King piece sitting on the chess board. Made of Blackwood, it has a brass crown with a cross on top.
A close-up picture of the dark Horse piece sitting on the chess board. Made of Blackwood, it has a brass horse's head on top.
Six chess pieces - Queen, castle, pawn, bishop, king, horse - sit atop a wooden chess board. They have wooden bases made from wither Huon Pine or Blackwood and each is topped with a brass shape representing their role.

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