By Joseph Younes
In a quiet workshop in the northern suburbs of Perth, just 10 minutes from the CBD, 83-year-old Robert Bonolo stands as a master of a nearly extinct craft—antique metal restoration.
His journey began when he was just 21, fuelled by eight years of studying chemistry at night school. “I studied the electrolysis of metals in night school and decided to get into this,” he recalls.
Now, more than 50 years later, he remains one of only two people in Western Australia, and one of just a handful across the country, who possess the skill to restore antique metal works.
Robert’s workshop, a mini museum and studio, is filled with pieces that tell stories of history, faith, and beauty.
But to Robert, his work goes beyond the technical—it is a vocation, a calling deeply intertwined with his Catholic faith. Born in Vicenza, 70 kilometres from Venice, Robert arrived in Australia in 1954 at the age of 12, without his parents.
“In 1954, I came to Australia, without my parents, stayed with my aunty and uncle who had no children,” he shares. Three years later, he moved to Perth alone, driven by a determination to forge his own path.
For decades, Robert has laboured in his unassuming workshop, where the oldest and most treasured metal artifacts in Western Australia have been brought back to life. He has restored countless church items, statues, and sacred objects, including work at Saint Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle, Saint Brigid in Perth and St Columba’s South Perth. “I’ve been restoring church items for over 50 years,” he says. “Any religious items that are not used, I recycle.”
Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent international Catholic figure, often speaks about evangelising through the true, the good, and the beautiful. Robert’s life work embodies the latter. “I’m Catholic,” he affirms, “and God is always above me and guides me in my work.” Through his craft, Robert reveals the beauty that draws souls closer to God.
Each restored chalice, statue, or chandelier is more than an object—it’s a manifestation of divine beauty, echoing Bishop Barron’s belief that beauty can lead us to truth and goodness.
Over the years, Robert’s reputation has spread far and wide. “Priests around the Archdiocese know me,” he says with humility. His work has taken him beyond Australia to places like Rome and Venice. “I’ve worked in Rome and in Venice,” he says, with photos and memories from those places adorning his workshop. Yet, despite his international experiences, Robert remains deeply connected to his roots in Perth, where he has spent a lifetime restoring the sacred and the beautiful.
Married to Clare with three “beautiful” children—two boys and one girl—and six grandchildren, Robert treasures his family above all.
“I treasure my family,” he says simply, a reflection of his deep love and commitment. His faith and family are the pillars of his life, guiding him as he continues his work. “I try to get 99.9 per cent on results when I work,” he says, a testament to his dedication and pursuit of excellence.
As Robert nears the end of his career, he is eager to pass on his knowledge and skills, but he is looking for more than just a technical apprentice. “I’m looking for someone of faith, someone who wants to do work for the Church,” he explains.
His craft, he believes, is a sacred duty, and he hopes to find a successor who shares this understanding. There are only three to four people in total across Australia who do this work, and sometimes they send him their most challenging pieces.
The future of his craft, as he sees it, must be entrusted to someone who sees it as a calling, not just a job.
Through his hands, Robert Bonolo has evangelised more powerfully than he ever could with words alone. His workshop is more than just a place of work; it is a sanctuary where he serves God by preserving the beauty that points to Him.
Ultimately, Robert’s life is a testament to the Catholic principle of stewardship and the transformative power of beauty.
Through his work, he has shown that even in the most unexpected places—like an old workshop in Perth— God’s presence can be revealed, and hearts can be moved closer to the divine.