Halliday Bellows was founded in the early 1980’s at The Jam Factory in Adelaide. While training in leather work my father Gordon Halliday received a number of requests to repair sets of fireside bellows that had fallen apart. He noticed some common issues in the original design and workmanship, and started adapting techniques from other areas of leather work to make sure that the repaired bellows were returned to their owners in a better and longer lasting condition than the original build.
After refining the process he began making his own bellows, using carefully selected pieces of Australian hardwoods, and kangaroo hides. With a focus on displaying the beauty inherent in the wood through a sleek, minimalist approach to shaping, they soon became a favourite for many Australian galleries and collectors, though hopefully finding their way to a fireplace eventually!
Over the years other priorities and a move to a new lifestyle in Queensland meant there simply wasn’t the time to keep up with demand. For many years the workshop has only been able to keep up with orders from friends and local sales.
After relocating back closer to family, I started working with Dad in the workshop, learning his process and design philosophy. I was lucky enough to have experience working with wood already, but the techniques he has developed to keep the leather elements working for decades (we still have some of his first pieces at home, never needing repairs since the 80’s) took practice and patience.
Nowdays, we work together to again be able to create enough bellows to be able to offer them further afield. It’s a joy to be able to work on something so beautifully designed and carefully crafted. We hope you get the same pleasure using them for many years to come.
Jimmy Halliday