The Traditional Stonemason

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With a generation of stonemasons hanging up their toolbelts and entering retirement, South Australian Ilir Frroku is making a name for himself on the Adelaide Hills and wider SA trade scene.  

Beginning his training as a stonemason in Europe at the age of 17, Ilir spent 11 years honing his craft across Greece and Italy.

“When I was very young, I had the opportunity to learn the traditional techniques of stonemasonry from the old men who had worked for fifty years in the profession. Now, the older stonemasons who migrated to Australia are retiring and there are limited opportunities for young people to learn the traditional methods. I believe it is important to learn when you are young, but to learn from old hands.”

Working across the residential and commercial sector, Ilir specialises in handcut stone walling, paving,  fireplaces and retaining & entrance walls.

“I am working mostly with local Bluestone and Adelaide Hills Sandstone. It is a harder stone than the stone in Greece, and harder to cut by hand, but I really like the colour and the finished product.”

“I think there will always be a demand for traditional stonemasonry. A good example is a stonework project I completed for the Gilberton Pump Station, and it was the local residents who requested that the plans be altered to use bluestone instead of synthetic building materials.”

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