An article in "Powerline" number 17 August - September 1990 says "Arthur Boon lived with his wife and twelve children on a small property at Billy's Creek near Dorrigo in northern NSW in the early years of this century. The apple orchard he and his family cultivated provided only a meagre living and, like many early settlers, there was little left over for such luxuries as shop-bought furniture" and "Between 1900 and 1920 Arthur Boon made a range of chairs ingeniously improvised from packing cases, building materials, cotton reels and even picture frame mouldings".

According to Arthur Boon's nephew, Arthur was never married, lived alone and was not fond of extended visits by family or friends. Arthur is believed to have been born at Parramatta, NSW Australia. He lived at Kangaroo Creek near Grafton, NSW as a young boy before settling at Billys Creek near Dorrigo, NSW where he lived the rest of his life.

As well as making furniture, Arthur Boon made a house, a barn, a shed and sulky shed on the property at Billys Creek. He died in the house he built and was buried in Dorrigo cemetery. He was between 73 and 75 when he died, sometime between 1956 and 1958. Family members have differing dates.

See also:
Making-do ... Cotton-reel chair, Powerline, Issue 17, August - September 1990

Chair of 'making do' / improvised construction, the back composed of seven horizontal, rectangular garden stakes [ladder back style], separated by cotton reels and connected to seat by fencing wire. Seat of six [packing case] wooden boards supported on four cotton reel legs, each with three stake stretchers. Remnants of green paint to leg and chair back.

Designed: Boon, Arthur; Dorrigo, New South Wales

Made: Boon, Arthur; Dorrigo, New South Wales; 1900 - 1920


Used: Boon, Arthur; Dorrigo, New South Wales

No marks.

88/1103

815 mm

591 mm

516 mm