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
- 10am to 4pm, Saturday 7 Oct We are running a letterpress workshop featuring octavo chapbook, handset type and images. Each of the 7 participants will create a double spread design made up of handset type and an image plate. The spreads will be collated and bound into an octavo chapbook and everyone takes away 2 chapbooks and 4 'postcards' of their double spread. Follow the link to the workshop Eventbrite page for more details and to book your spot.
How it started
The Commoners Press was formed in 2017 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 1960ies and sold them to us when he retired in 2017. 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.