Our History
The Tamborine Mountain Creative Arts and Crafts Group (TMCA) originated in l975 when 16 people gathered together in an old workshop in the late Mrs Doris Aagaard’s garden. The aims and objectives of the group were not only to provide a service to the community in many diverse ways, but also to encourage participation in all arts and crafts, and to promote fellowship in which everyone gains pleasure and fulfillment.
Tamborine Mountain Creative Arts was incorporated (1987) and a constitution was drawn up. The Old Shed became affectionately known as The Workshop. Members enjoyed a variety of crafts including art, woodcarving, copper enamelling, screen & block printing, batik, pottery, china painting, tapestry, bark pictures, macrame, crochet, collage, patchwork, basketry, spinning, weaving, and bobbin lace making.
On 28th July l980, sadly, Mrs Doris Aagaard died suddenly which was a great loss to the group. Her daughter Helen generously allowed the group to continue using The Workshop for the time being with the group offering to pay a token towards the rates on the property and to help maintain part of the garden.
In l981 membership had increased to between 90 – 100 members. The group realised that they must aim for a permanent headquarters of their own.
“We would like to carry on our craft projects as usual, as a tribute to Doris Aagaard
who was a wonderful friend, tutor and inspirational guide”.
In 1981 the Queensland Government established a Department of Cultural Affairs announcing a plan for assisting non-profit cultural organizations to acquire their own building by offering a dollar-for-dollar subsidy on the cost of the building to help non-profit community organizations. Late in l981 the Beaudesert Shire Council offered a 1000 sq.m. piece of land on Wongawallan Road to build on. This was to become the first cultural complex in the Beaudesert Shire.
The group needed to raise $17,000 which would be matched by the Beaudesert Shire Council. Many mountain residents gave to the appeal to aid the first cultural complex in the Beaudesert Shire. Some members paid weekly levies 2 years in advance; others gave interest-free loans and several others gave generous donations. The interest-free loans were paid off in less than 2 years.
The building took shape in just 6 months from February to June of 1983 with David Davis as the chief volunteer. Fundraising continued throughout construction as they were required to pay contractors in full before the council would allow them the other half.
The official opening took place at 2pm on Saturday September 10th 1983. Within twelve months, TMCA was debt free and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
“…It is most heartening to experience such kindness, generosity and hard voluntary labour given by both business representatives, tradesmen, husbands of members and members.” said the Minister for Culture at the time of the official opening.
In 1994 after many more years of fundraising, another building was constructed to cater for the growing membership which now houses our patchwork, embroidery, machine sewing, wearable arts, botanic drawing, life drawing, natural weaving, and wood artisans groups.
In 2000 a pottery studio was also added to our complex, and in 2015 a kiln shed and new venting system were added with the help of a grant ‘Gambling Community
Benefit Fund’ plus additional contribution from Tamborine Mountain
Creative Arts.
The members continue to contribute greatly to the community – donating quilts, crafts, food and money to charities as well as supporting our local Tamborine Mountain Show.
Tamborine Mountain Creative Arts Inc. are proud to provide the venue to nurture arts and crafts within our mountain community.
Our Logo : read more about the story behind its creation.
In 2025 we celebrated our 50th year of operation.
In 2025 the expansion of the pottery facilities will occur with funding from the Queensland Government Grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (plus contributions from Tamborine Mountain Creative Arts).
We aim to continue to grow and meet the needs of our creative community.