Courses
The Western Australian Craft Bookbinders Guild offers a range of courses at a small cost. These are held on weekends in Como, and cater for both members and non-members. Here is a map reference (Como, McDougall House). These courses are a great way to start your bookbinding, and are run on a regular basis. The courses run as a progressive series, so attending a number of them will help your skills, as a range of different binding styles and techniques are demonstrated. Some skills are repeated, so that you get opportunities to improve through the participation in a number of courses.
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All courses result in you taking one of more items home at the end.
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Check the list of courses below to see when the next courses will be run. If you cannot make a course that you have booked for, please contact the Secretary so that someone else may take up the place.
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You must be 18 years old or over to attend one of our courses.
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Weekend courses start at 9:00 am and go through to 4:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
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From 2025, all our courses will be held at McDougall House on Clydesdale Street in Como. See the map reference above.
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You must register and pay in order to attend, and places are very limited. We have a maximum of 8 on all courses.
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Payments must be made before the course starts, and are not refundable in the last 14 days prior to the course commencing. View our Refund and Privacy policies here.
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Details about what you make and techniques you will learn can be found on our Course Details page.
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Note: all our communications with you will be via email. Please check your email for payment details once you have registered for a course. If you do not respond, you may lose your place.
If you have waitlisted for a course, you may also get an email from us indicating that a place has become available.
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We do not use your email address for any marketing, nor do we give it out to anyone.
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Last updated: February 2026
February 2026 Beginners Course
Date: Saturday, February 14th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, February 15th, 2026 - 4:00 PM
This is a great introduction to making your own books using very traditional techniques. We provide all the tools and materials for the course, and discuss how you can get started on your bookbinding journey.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
This course is now full, and we are no longer taking waitlist bookings.
There will be a number of beginners courses throughout 2026, so keep an eye on this page, as they fill up very quickly.
Takeaway: A pamphlet style book, a hardback multi-section book, a slipcase for your hardback book.
April 2026 Beginners Course
Date: Saturday, Apr 11th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, Apr 12th, 2026 - 4:00 PM
This is a great introduction to making your own books using very traditional techniques. We provide all the tools and materials for the course, and discuss how you can get started on your bookbinding journey.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
This course is now full.
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Takeaway: A pamphlet style book, a hardback multi-section book, a slipcase for your hardback book.
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March 2026 Intermediate Course
Date: Saturday, March 14th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, March 15th, 2026 - 4:00 PM
This course is an excellent introduction to some of the more intricate techniques required to make a traditional round back book.
You will also make a soft cover book in the manner of a paperback, but much stronger and more long lasting. If you have lots of paperback books that you need to repair, this is a must do course for you.
This course is suitable for beginners who have some craft skills, not necessarily in bookbinding.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
This course is now full, but you may waitlist.
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Takeaway: A perfect bound (paperback) book and a hollow back hardcover multi-section book.
May 2026 Box Making Course
Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, May 10th, 2026 - 4:00 PM
We cover a range of box making techniques that will allow you to create your own fantastic looking unique boxes that are suitable for protecting books or any other small items.
Learn how to make an archive quality box for protecting delicate objects.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
Takeaway: Two boxes, one as a shoebox style (separate box and lid), and the other an archive quality Solander style.
Courses are generally published no earlier than approximately 4 months in advance. We do not run courses in January. There will be more courses in 2026.