History of the Gosnells Community Men’s Shed

The Gosnells Shed initially started as an idea from the Rotary Club of Southern Districts looking for a worthwhile project. The idea for a men’s shed in this area was linked to the personal experience of a Rotarian familiar with the benefits flowing from the Kalamunda Men’s Shed.

A small committee was established comprising members from the Rotary Club and began investigations in late 2010 with a view to determining whether a Men’s Shed was needed in the City of Gosnells and if so whether the Club could be involved in the process.

Enquiries were made of the City of Gosnells who were enthusiastic in their support. Other organisation were also consulted and nobody was discouraging, all were enthusiastic as to the need.

An offer of a site from Amaroo Aged Care was received and the Rotary Club agreed to make an initial donation of $30,000 available if the proposed project went ahead. Throughout 2011, a large number of potential sites were inspected and considered, mainly from the perspective of security, tenure, size, access and public transport. The Amaroo site came out best on all criteria and Amaroo’s offer was subsequently accepted.

The original Rotary committee morphed into a ‘planning committee’ comprising a few Rotarians as well as a few other interested persons. A draft Constitution was prepared and used as a basis for seeking and receiving Incorporation under the Associations Incorporation Act in late 2011.

In February, 2012 a public interest meeting was arranged at the Agonis Centre in Gosnells attended by over 100 men (and a few women), most of whom completed expression of interest applications at the meeting. The strong endorsement from the local community was enough to convince the planning committee (which had now morphed into an ‘interim management committee’) that the idea of a shed was viable and the proposed site offered by Amaroo should be accepted. The interim management committee conducted its meetings at the nearby Gosnells Hotel.

A lease was successfully negotiated with Amaroo for a period of 20 years (10 + 5 + 5) and negotiations commenced with Lotterywest and other funding agencies to determine what assistance might be available.

So what was included in the initial lease? A wonderful site overlooking the Canning River in central Gosnells, close to public transport with an adjoining carpark owned and maintained by others, the 100 year old heritage listed Lewis Homestead, a tumble down ‘shed’ almost ready to fall down, a few trees and a very run down garden spread over approximately one acre.

The annual rent was a peppercorn. Along with the above, the lease placed certain responsibilities on the Shed including a requirement for the Shed to maintain the old homestead and surrounds, keep the long shared driveway and ‘Avenue of Trees’ clean and tidy and refrain from alcohol and smoking on the site. There were other provisions, of course, but the gist of it was we could use the old house and build a shed on the site.

The lease came into effect from 1 July, 2012. On Saturday 23 June and 30 June, 2012, a small party of volunteers attended the site and conducted the very first of many ‘busy bees’ as part of a general and much needed clean- up of the leased area. The fence line between the markets and Lewis property was cleared, small trees and overgrown shrubs removed and arrangements made for a replacement secure fence to be installed using Rotary and other funds. Gosnells Lions Club members attended and provided a sausage sizzle from their trailer based BBQ and we were away and running – so we thought.

For various reasons, negotiations with Lotterywest became protracted, our ideas of what sort of shed to put on the site kept changing and time was slipping by. By the end of 2013 we had well over 100 Members and no shed, only the old homestead which we had been busy renovating.

To keep members interested and active a range of different activities were developed using the experience and enthusiasm of various members and making use of the very limited facilities available.

Cards, music, cycling, gardening, photography, painting and drawing were introduced and monthly sausage sizzles held under a tree in the old Lewis backyard.

In 2014 Amaroo came to our rescue (again) agreeing to become the applicant for funding purposes with Lotterywest and also agreeing to become our builder for a brick and iron shed to match the heritage listed Lewis Homestead and the nearby McMahon Centre.

The then Premier of Western Australia, Hon Colin Barnett officiated at the opening of the new Shed on 30 March, 2015, just over three years from the initial public meeting.

The workshop was fitted out by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who worked tirelessly for months to construct benches, install machinery and turn the building into a workshop.

In the meantime members who were not necessarily into woodwork or metal were busy establishing still more passive activities and growing the long standing groups to the point where the basic accommodation available in Lewis House was no longer adequate.

A decision was taken in late 2015 to look at options for additional accommodation for the passive activities. After considerable investigation a disused transportable classroom was procured and transported to a site at the rear of our workshop and works commenced on the complete renovation of the building.

The transportable was approximately 40 years old and in poor condition when delivered. Some 6,000 plus hours were spent by members in the installation and renovation of the building to the point where it is unrecognisable from the original. The members involved provided a significant amount of skill and experience to the project and created a space that is the envy of every other shed that visits. All this and very little use of tradesmen, although some very useful advice was provided by several when needed.

The additional building, known as ‘The Annex’, was opened by the Member for Thornlie Chris Tallentire, MLA on 4 May 2018.

The Wiltshire Room has enabled the expansion of existing groups and the commencement of others, as well as providing space for meetings, discussion groups and socialising.