Men's Shed

All about Hornsby Woodworking Men’s Shed. It all started in the year 2000 with an amateur woodworker’s idea  of starting a woodworking club local to the Hills District of Sydney. At that time there was an Australian company (Triton) that was an innovator in developing a saw table and other devices to improve the accuracy of portable power tools. With its help, a meeting was arranged with Triton users which resulted in the formation of the Hills District Triton User Group in 2001. In those early years, the challenge was to find permanent accommodation to house the woodworking equipment that we were very slowly accumulating. 

The Club has gone from strength to strength, guided by involved members (some dating back to its foundation) and a very capable Management Committee. It evolved into Hornsby Woodworking Men’s Shed, long before the Men’s Shed movement became a force in Australia. In 2010, it was offered the current premises in Thornleigh; a spacious workshop that it leases from Hornsby Council.

The picture at right was taken during a recent visit to the Shed by Robert Browne, HSC Councillor and Julian Leeser MP, Federal Member for Berowra. During the 16 years that the Shed has been operating, it has retained the original principles of being an organisation for people who are interested in woodworking whatever their skills or gender. The Shed is largely self-funded but, through careful management of finances combined with fund raising activities it has been equipped with almost every woodworking tool and machine that members need to undertake their various activities. The Shed has 170 members and is open four days a week for its workshop activities. Members are largely of retirement age but mix readily with younger male and female members in a spirit of a shared interest and a willingness to help each other improve their skills. It is this atmosphere that has helped people who are lonely, lacking in confidence or depressed find friendship and creative fulfilment. The Shed also interacts with the local community, doing work for schools, child care groups and locals that just pop in. In addition, it has a toy making group that donates hundreds of toys at Christmas to disadvantaged children, via its various charities. Follow this link for further details from the Website: www.hornsbymensshed.org.au/about-us/