Friends of Kurth Kiln

The Friends of Kurth Kiln started with 12 people in June 1999, the group currently meets the 2^nd Saturday of each month at the Kiln.

Located near Gembrook in Melbourne's East, Kurth Kiln is best known for it's iconic kiln that was used during the Second World War. Due to the conservation and restoration efforts of the Friends of Kurth Kiln and the support of Parks Victoria, the kiln and the various heritage listed Forestry Huts have been meticulously preserved and are available for public viewing.

But Kurth Kiln is also a popular place for Picnic and Camping activities, including fascinating Walking Tracks. 

Take a walk through our historic grounds, and you too, could become a friend of Kurth Kiln.

Scheduled Working Bees are on the second Saturday each month, starting at 10:00am on site at Kurth Kiln with a short General Meeting, and continues normally till 3pm. Barbeque facilities are available for lunch, as are tea and coffee. 

Our Mission

• Preservation of this historic site, 
• Signpost the scenic surrounding Walking Tracks
• Restore the facility where possible, including some functional exhibits
• Categorizing the Moveable Cultural Heritage on Melbourne Museum computer programs
  see part of our collection on the web at the Victorian Collection Site 
• Secure the Annex at the rear of the Big Shed as Display Area for the historic Charcoal Grader.
• Promote greater public awareness of Kurth Kiln's Cultural Heritage Significance

Our Philosophy

Kurth Kiln is at the centre of the Kurth Kiln Park, a division of PARKS VICTORIA, and the FRIENDS OF KURTH KILN is a group of people committed to the preservation of the park, the improvement of its facilities and to the restoration and promotion of this historic site.

To this end it is our intention to:

• research into the history of the site, its construction and its purpose, as well as the kilns designer Professor Kurth, for whom the kiln and his patented design for it formed a large part of his life.
• to collect, collate and make accessible to the public the history of Kurth Kiln in poster and book form.
• restore the kiln and ancillary equipment where feasible and create a functional display of the historic artefacts, together with typical fauna and flora exhibits.
• developing the natural bush setting with sign-posted walking tracks along Tomahawk Creek
• improving the picnic and amenities facilities at the site.

The Friends of Kurth Kiln group officially started in June 1999, that is when we registered the name and became incorporated. Our interest in the historic place goes back some 10 years further though, when Alfred & Ursula Klink started to collect information on the historic place and its creator from libraries, universities and living descendants of Professor Kurth, you can read more about Professor Kurth on our About Page.