Commoners Press
Commoners Press is a local startup print studio that works with artists and designers in Australia and abroad on short run projects. We really like projects that are community focused, experimental, sustainable and/or regenerative practice.
We have 3 letter presses including a 100+ year old manual press and are currently working with 3D printing as a way of connecting new and old printing technology.
Contact us
to get in touch – or – Follow us on Instagram and say hello.
What's on
We are taking registrations of interest for Introductory Workshops with Bricolage. Work together in our Coburg studio with metal type and our letterpresses, a Heidlebeg ‘red-ball’ and a Chandler and Price New Style, to print postcards using existing artwork. May include hand-setting type, using existing images - the spirit of bricolage! ~ Learn about letterpress and printing ~~ Set your own type, select images and colours ~ Visit the Bricolage Workshops page for more information.
From 24 – 26 May 2024 we will be at the NGV's Great Hall in Southbank with our these three things - workshop. Visit our stall to see our latest prints crafted on traditional letterpress machines and take part in an engaging print and typesetting workshop at the NGV over the event's duration. We welcome you to our stall to participate in hands-on typesetting using movable type. Free workshop. No RSVP required. More information on the workshop, finissage and roundtable here.
On 1 June 2024 catch us at these three things-finissage & roundtable @ Coburg Studios! See our traditional letterpress printing machines in action. Join us at 10am-12pm at 69 Charles St in North Coburg. Get involved in collating, printing and binding all contributions from the workshop together as a compact octavo booklet. Stick around for our roundtable discussion where we will delve into conversations about the contributions, printing methods, and creative communities. More information on the workshop, finissage and roundtable here.
Also on 1 June 2024 we will be in Geelong at the Makers Fair, from 1 to 3pm, as part of Melbourne Art Book Fair. more details to follow
How it started
The Commoners Press was formed in 2019 with the purchase of 3 traditional letterpress machines, one paper guillotine and various printing sundries (paper stock, printing ink and tools) from Ray, owner of Excell Press in Brunswick. Ray had bought them new in the 1960's and sold them to us when he retired in 2019. He continued to show us how to operate these machines alongside Geoff White, a former pressman who completed his apprenticeship on the very same machines.
In January 2021 Commoners Press moved from Brunswick to Coburg North and is now part of Coburg Studios on Charles Street. A semi-trailer was required to transport this very heavy machinery.