Ferguson Strings Archive
The Story Behind
the Archive
Tom Ferguson spent decades handcrafting string instruments from rare Australian native timbers. This is the story of his craft, his legacy, and the extraordinary gift that ensures his instruments will be played for generations to come.
Tom Ferguson — Photos: The Age
In Memoriam
Tom Ferguson —
Luthier & Craftsman
Tom Ferguson was not a professional luthier in the commercial sense. He was something rarer: a man who devoted his life to a craft for the pure love of it. An engineer by training, he brought a methodical precision to the ancient art of string instrument making — but it was his craftsman's soul that made the difference.
He studied the great makers obsessively. He read everything he could find about Stradivari, Guarneri, and Guadagnini. He measured, he experimented, he failed, and he refined. Over decades, he produced instruments that professional musicians describe as extraordinary — not despite their Australian origins, but because of them.
The native timbers Tom used — stringy gum, apple box, alpine ash, ribbon gum — had never been used in lutherie before. He had to discover their acoustic properties himself, through trial and listening. The result was a body of work unlike anything else in the world.
“This was a passion, not a business. Each instrument he made is a singular piece of history.”
Tom also developed his own original design — "The Ferguson" — a model that combined everything he had learned into something entirely new. It is not a copy of any historical instrument. It is his own voice, expressed in wood and varnish.
He passed away knowing his instruments are singular, irreplaceable works. This archive exists to ensure they are never forgotten.
A Life in Craft
The Making of a Legacy
The Beginning
Tom Ferguson discovered luthiery as a second calling, combining his background in engineering with a deep love of music. He began studying the great makers — Stradivarius, Guarneri del Gesù, Guadagnini — and set about learning their methods from first principles.
Finding His Voice
Tom began experimenting with native Australian timbers — stringy gum, apple box, alpine ash, ribbon gum — materials no European luthier had ever used. The results were extraordinary: instruments with a warmth and resonance unlike anything produced in the traditional workshops of Cremona.
The Ferguson Model
Drawing on decades of refinement, Tom developed his own original design: "The Ferguson". Combining his engineering precision with deep woodcraft intuition, the model delivered a superior tone and projection that set it apart from any historical copy. It was entirely his own.
A Prolific Decade
Tom's most productive years. He completed dozens of instruments — violins, violas, and cellos — each one representing approximately 100 hours of dedicated handwork. His workshop became a quiet sanctuary of sawdust, varnish, and music.
Final Works
Tom completed his last instruments in the late 2010s. Each one carries the full weight of a lifetime's mastery. He passed away knowing his instruments are singular, irreplaceable works — and that they will outlast him by centuries.
The Xavier Gift
Tom's son-in-law and daughter — donated 36 of his instruments to Xavier College, Melbourne. Valued at over $400,000, the collection now lives in the Music Department, played by students every day.
Materials
Australian Timbers
Tom's most radical departure from tradition was his choice of materials. Where European luthiers have used spruce and maple for centuries, Tom turned to the forests of Australia — and discovered something extraordinary.
Each timber brought its own acoustic character. Tom spent years learning how to work with them, how to graduate them, how to coax their voices out. The result is a body of work that could only have been made in Australia, by this one man.
Stringy Gum
A dense, resonant eucalypt with dramatic grain patterns. Tom's most-used native timber, prized for its tonal warmth.
Apple Box
A fine-grained hardwood with a bright, clear voice. Rare in lutherie — Tom was one of very few makers to use it.
Alpine Ash
Light and responsive, alpine ash produces a singing, open tone. Tom used it for both backs and bellies.
Ribbon Gum
Named for its interlocked grain that creates a shimmering ribbon figure. Visually stunning and acoustically rich.
Queensland Maple
A tropical hardwood with maple-like properties. Tom used it to bridge the gap between European tradition and Australian identity.
Huon Pine
One of the world's slowest-growing trees, Huon Pine produces a silky, resinous belly with exceptional acoustic properties.
Inspirations
The Models He Studied
Tom built instruments inspired by the greatest makers in history — but always with his own materials, his own hands, and his own refinements. Each model tells a different story.
Stradivarius
1715–1717
Antonio Stradivari's golden-period instruments remain the benchmark for violin making. Tom studied their arching, graduation, and varnish obsessively, producing faithful interpretations in Australian timber.
15 instruments in archive
Guarneri del Gesù
1734–1742
Guarneri's instruments are bolder and more powerful than Stradivari's — favoured by Paganini and many modern soloists. Tom made more Guarneri-inspired instruments than any other model.
16 instruments in archive
Giovanni Guadagnini
1776
Guadagnini's instruments occupy a unique space — smaller than Stradivari, with a focused, penetrating tone. Tom's Guadagnini-inspired violins are among his most distinctive works.
3 instruments in archive
The Ferguson
Original Design
Tom's own model — the culmination of decades of study and experimentation. Not a copy of anything. A wholly original instrument that reflects his engineering mind and craftsman's soul.
13 instruments in archive
Legacy Gift
The Xavier College
Donation
In March 2024, Tom's son-in-law and daughter made a decision that would ensure his instruments would be played, not stored. They donated 36 of Tom's handcrafted string instruments to Xavier College, Melbourne.
The collection — comprising violins, violas, and cellos — was collectively valued at over $400,000. Each instrument represents approximately 100 hours of dedicated craftsmanship, made from beautiful Australian timbers including Queensland maple, alpine ash, and select eucalypts.
After thoughtful discussions with Fr Richard Leonard SJ — and despite no previous connection to Xavier College — Christian and Adele chose to entrust this rare and valuable collection to the College. It was Tom's express wish that the instruments remain together and continue to be played by musicians, rather than serve solely as display pieces.
The collection is now housed in the Music Department at Xavier College, where it enriches the musical education of students and ensures Tom's legacy lives on for generations to come.
— Xavier College Foundation, Melbourne
36
Instruments donated
$400k+
Collective value
~100 hrs
Per instrument
2024
Year of donation
"These instruments will not only elevate performance experiences but also ensure Tom's legacy lives on — supporting and inspiring young musicians for generations to come."
— Xavier College Foundation
This Site
About This Archive
Ferguson Strings is a digital archive and tribute to Tom Ferguson, maintained by his family. Its purpose is to document every instrument Tom made — to preserve their history, their specifications, and their stories — so that they are never lost.
Each instrument in the catalogue has its own record: photographs, timber details, model inspiration, year of completion, and — where applicable — its current custodian. Every record can be printed as a Certificate of Authenticity.
If you own a Ferguson instrument, or have photographs, recordings, or information that could enrich this archive, we would love to hear from you. This is a living record, and it grows with every contribution.
47
Instruments documented
34
At Xavier College
6+
Native timber species
4
Maker models
~100 hrs
Per instrument
30+
Years of craft
In Memoriam — Tom Ferguson, luthier & craftsman.
His instruments live on.