Last weekend's event gave members of the Bathurst community the chance to meet some of the faces who are keeping traditional craftsmanship alive locally.

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One such craftsperson on hand was Bathurst and District Historical Society committee member Jeff McSpedden, who provided a coopering demonstration at the Agricultural Research Station.

Coopering is the craft of manufacturing staved wooden vessels [buckets, barrels etc.] by hand, and Mr McSpedden said the profession is highly significant from a heritage standpoint.

"Prior to the introduction of steel kegs just before World War II, coopers enjoyed plenty of business manufacturing wooden barrels to house beer," he said.

"There's still the odd cooper around, but most of their jobs consist of repair work."

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Mr McSpedden said the coopering process requires a great deal of precision to ensure each vessel is void of any leaks.

"To ensure each stave is measured properly, the angles they cast with the centre of the vessel must equal 360 degrees," he said.

"When you divide the number of staves by 360, you find the angle needed for each stave to fit securely together."

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Mr McSpeeden said the event provided a vital reminder of Bathurst's origins in the manufacturing industry.

"These trades will fade with time if we don't continue to promote their historical importance," he said.