Dave Skelton

Dave Skelton is a master blacksmith, community storyteller, and the revered keeper of Tocal Homestead’s historic forge for over thirty years. Believed to be one of the oldest living blacksmiths in Australia, Dave brings a lifetime of irreplaceable knowledge, living heritage, and localized memory to the project. At the core of Forged Rhythms, Dave serves as the vital bridge between Tocal's historic past and its contemporary future—sharing his signature craftsmanship, oral histories, and time-honoured techniques at the anvil to anchor the exhibition’s overarching story.


Bob Skelton

Bob Skelton—famously known across the Hunter region as the ‘Minmi Magster’—is a traditional blacksmith’s striker, celebrated bush poet, and a living legend of the local community. Alongside his twin brother Dave, Bob stands as one of Australia's oldest heritage forge practitioners, dedicated to keeping historic metalwork traditions alive. For Forged Rhythms, Bob weaves together his dual passions of verse and iron; his rhythmic sledgehammer strikes and a lifetime of bush poetry provide a profound lyrical and physical voice that perfectly encapsulates the human storytelling element of the installation.