For more than two years, Des Carroll was a quiet but popular fixture at the swarming markets, which all but take over the National Convention Centre.

The 73-year-old stood tall and proud beside enormous pear sculptures, which he created using scrap fencing metal and old horseshoes.

Des died last month after a year-long battle with cancer. His final truck-load of unique sculptures will be the last to hit the market.

A retired farmer from Ganmain, near Wagga Wagga, he had turned to sculpting in what would become a commercially successful second career.

But, more importantly, it helped him stave off the debilitating depression that hit him on leaving his Riverina land.

Seven years ago, his loving family – wife Eileen and daughters Patrice and Bernie – were desperate to coax him out of his inaction and silence, and, with the help of the family GP, managed to spark his interest in crafting with metal.

Patrice was a potter and while working with clay or wood did little to excite her father, Des modified an old wheel to turn rusting fencing wire into shapes.

An urn came first and he soon progressed to creating enormous and imposing shapes, and pears were the most popular.

His work caught the interest of Julie Nicholls and Rachel Evagelou. They spent several years coaxing him to try a few sales at their markets before Des and Eileen finally took the plunge and trucked a load of spectacular scrap metal to Canberra. Not only did they sell almost everything they had brought with them, but they went home with nearly 50 orders.

Des' beautiful pears have been bought and displayed around the world as well as being snapped up locally for pride of place in gardens around the city..

Despite undergoing major surgery in December and getting an all-clear from doctors in May, Des' cancer returned.

As a dying wish, Des wanted his work to continue. He would be taken in his wheelchair down to his beloved shed, where he painstakingly showed his daughters and his brothers, Noel and Terrence, what to do.

"When he knew the end was coming, it was so important to him to know that the work would not end with him," Eileen said.

So while the last remaining original Des Carroll sculptures will likely sell out over the weekend, there is also a chance the family will keep producing them according to Des' exacting instructions – albeit on a smaller scale.

Market founder Julie Nicholls said the family had been a joy to work with and she hoped Des' distinctive designs would live on.

"His work was ridiculously popular and it will be emotional to see it here for one last market," she said.

"Of course, we'd love to see the family keep going with it."

The Handmade Market will be open on October 4 and 5 from 10am to 4pm.

It will showcase the work of 158 designers and will coincide with Floriade, which is just a quick stroll over the bridge.