About
Aaron Smith is a locksmith located in Melbourne, Australia. From a passion for maintaining, developing and promoting traditional locksmithing techniques, antique lock restoration, and hand cutting custom keys he has created The Keyhole Surgeon.
Experience
Aaron started his career in 2004 after completing a pre-apprenticeship at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), now Melbourne Polytechnic, and commenced an apprenticeship.
After completing his apprenticeship and being exposed to many facets of the locksmith trade, including Automotive Locksmithing and Safe and Vault opening and servicing, Aaron moved into a challenging sales role with a specialist commercial locksmith company.
With a passion for all aspects of locksmithing and security, he continued to train in areas including safe opening and servicing, government security, architectural hardware specification and electronic access control systems.
After more than three years in varied sales role, he was offered a teaching position with the Locksmithing Department at NMIT, which he readily accepted. The new role allowed for exposure to daily use of traditional locksmithing techniques including the use of hand tools to cut keys, silver soldering, machining and fabrication of new components. Continuing to teach at NMIT allowed Aaron to complete a Bachelor of Science (Security) in 2013 at Edith Cowan University and continue to refine his skills, knowledge and craft.
Inspiration
During this time Aaron became increasingly concerned with the reduction of traditional skills and sought to rekindle his passion with his trade. A chance meeting with Glen Rundell of Rundell & Rundell bought Aaron into contact with a circle of people with similar passions and commitment to traditional and lost trades.
He finds inspiration from craftsmen and figures of the trade like Joseph Bramah, Chubb, Samuel Chatwood, Hobbs, Milner, Sargent & Greenleaf, Solomon and Charles Aubin, as well as the modern developments from manufacturers such as Ross Locks and Urban Alps.
Now
In 2018, Aaron undertook a Fellowship where he travelled to the United Kingdom and Europe to undertake studies in heritage lockmaking, conservation of locks and keys and restoration.
Aaron has a small workshop in Melbourne, Australia, where he uses traditional craft-based methods to bring these pieces of history to life again.