“Beneath the railway viaduct, the archways have hosted many mavericks. In my life there’s been Bill, servicing outboard engines and who could make a sailor blush, Pete, running a complete workshop and office for his tug and slipway company, squatters who fully furnished an archway, a lunchroom full of machinists in white overalls, my aunt who lived in her van beneath an archway and planted the enormous fig tree, and of course my father, Bob the boat builder. Bob built big vessels outside and had our archway for storage; and from 1998 reading, reciting poetry, barbecuing chops, gifting his wisdom to the unsuspecting, and building smaller yachts. The evocative world of wooden boat building, although antiquated, is what I love. I can’t think of a better thing to do.” Rob Gordon

Jim Atkins has designed and mixed audio for opera, symphonies, ballet, theatre, and site-specific music events across Australia and internationally. Jim guides this collaboration with leading continuo and harpsichord player Nathan Cox, emerging Tasmanian vocalist and improvisor Sabine Bester, and wooden boat shipwright Locky Rankin.

Nathan Cox appears courtesy of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney.