The Cottage was formed in 1967 with the object to encourage study & promotion of Arts & Crafts in the township & district of Buderim, & to establish & maintain liaison with other Arts & Crafts Societies. It has over 300 members working in 12 different self-help groups with specific classes & workshops arranged from time to time as needed. Their current annual subscription is $33 due on 1st October with all members expected to participate in activities with a minimum of 25% of normal group meetings per year essential to maintain membership as many groups have a waiting list.

On Easter Saturday & the last Saturday in November each year, the Craft Cottage holds Fair Days where members sell their craft items. Commissions on these sales, plus funds from the tea room, plant stall, produce stall & raffle, help to cover the ongoing expenses of the Cottage. All members are requested to assist in some way towards the success of these fund-raising events.

For visitors & those new to town with an interest in art & crafts, feel free to drop in anytime & see what’s happening. Join a group, take pleasure in the benefits & enjoy many happy years with everyone!

Buderim Craft Cottage, as it stands today, owes its existence to the enthusiasm of a group of craftspeople searching for a central meeting ground where they could develop their skills. In the early 1960’s they met in each other’s home— embroiderers in Wilga (Bill) Wilcox’s lounge & the potters in Zelma Dyson’s garage. When Pioneer Cottage was donated to the town of Buderim, Mary Dalley & her spinners & weavers, joined with the embroiderers to meet on the verandah whilst the potters bought a kiln & worked under Buderim House, then owned by Mary Mercon.

With the restoration of Pioneer Cottage as a museum, a new meeting place was needed. So, in 1967, Zelma Dyson approached Mr Bartholomew & gained the use of a cottage on his land in Church Street for ‘the payment of rates, plus maintenance’. Zelma’s neighbour, Jeanne Cameron found an unwanted garage for one hundred pounds which was bought & moved beside this cottage to house the existing three groups. Teife Waldon’s newly established painting group & the silver-workers group (who are still with Irene Marshall) joined as well. Woman’s Day magazine published an article with photos on this Craft Cottage Group on 4 September, 1967.

In 1972, a committee was formed & they held their first Easter Market which, unfortunately, was rained out!. These Easter markets are now well & truly an institution in Buderim along with the Christmas markets held the last Saturday in November. The following year, the market was held in Buderim Arcade &, from then on, in the Community Hall, with Zelma always aiming to raise enough money for craft premises of their own.

In the early 70’s, a delegation, led by Eddy de Vere, persuaded the Main Roads Department to donate a plot of land to the Maroochy Shire Council for cultural purposes.

In 1973, there were 54 members counted at the AGM & in 1974, these members approached the State Government for help to build a craft centre on this land which had been granted on a 20-year lease at the rate of $1.00. The Government replied in May with an offer to match dollar for dollar up to ten thousand dollars & so building commenced.

At the AGM on November 5th 1975, the annual subscription was raised to $4.00 per annum & the official opening of the present day cottage was combined with a Christmas party in December 1975. In 1978 the annual subscription rose to $5.00 per annum. 1979 saw 200 members & associates.

Craft Cottage has since been extended twice & they now have about 300 members in 13 different craft groups (life drawing, calligraphy, fabric artists, lacemaking, needlework, painters, patchwork, porcelain painters, potters, silversmiths, spinners & weavers & tapestry.

The original precepts written into the constitution continue to link craftspeople in the community toward their common goal - the pursuit of excellence, sharing of knowledge within their group & communication with other groups, &, above all, the companionship amongst people following these pursuits.

During August 2000, they proudly opened Stage One of their renovations & extensions. This included new toilet facilities with disabled access, & a new pottery workshop & firing section. With a burgeoning membership of around 300, space at a premium, & a lot of maintenance to be done on the building, the Craft Cottage launched into the next stage which extended the kitchen & enclosed the courtyard area, making it into an atrium gallery, providing much needed floorspace both for everyday work & for their famous Easter & Christmas Fairs.

The next stage of extensions is now on the drawing board with a storage area to be added at the back of the building & a beautiful lych gate at the entrance from Main Street.