Merri-bek Community Shed, or ‘MerriCS’, has steadily grown into a local institution. Despite this, in mid-2024, Merri-bek Council disclosed that the group only had a short-term user agreement that was set to expire at the end of last year. It appears that the fate of MerriCS hinges on whether the Council accepts a proposal from the Bachar Houli Foundation, a not-for-profit run by ex-AFL player Houli, to build a $20 million multi-purpose sporting facility for culturally diverse youths to feel safe meeting and playing sport together. Former Councillor James Conlan attempted to include in Council’s July 2024 motion an amendment to consider the inclusion of the various community groups that have utilised the space. This motion was lost.
What seems apparent is that if the Bachar Foundation can secure that amount of money from state or federal donations, which is their plan, they could probably afford to develop the facility anywhere else around the parameters of the Coburg Oval. Whereas MerriCS and the Coburg Commons Garden depend on existing structures to operate.
The president of the MerriCS, Dave, explained that the group started as a Zoom call in the midst of COVID-19. “I was the last person to step backwards when elections were happening for the main roles”. The group is very clearly not a men’s shed. When we arrived at the old Bowls club, we came across what appeared to be a true cross-section of the local community. “There’s nothing wrong with Mensheds, but this area needs far more than just 50 year old men whittling away at some wood”.
Merri-bek council owns the building, and the group negotiated a use agreement for some time before opening their doors to the public in late 2023. According to Dave, the group’s ultimate goal is to have a permanent facility set up for the work members want to do, as the current space doesn’t meet all their needs. Despite the building’s limitations, the group has members interested in woodworking, metalwork, pyrography, ceramics, glazier work and textiles to name a few. Recently, the group introduced a blacksmithing forge to their impressive collection of professional-grade equipment. Dave says that the group’s leadership, half of which is constituted by tradespeople, take their tools and safety very seriously. “We need to ensure safety. There have already been quite a few second hand tools that we just had to get rid of. If people want to donate stuff, we say ‘great, that’s awesome’ but we need to do a thorough round of testing to make sure it’s safe. We test in three ways: an electrical safety test, a mechanical safety test and an accuracy safety test”.
The group has been forging connections with other groups in the area too. For example, the Commons Garden which had to move away from its spot opposite Coburg Library due to Uniting Church undergoing a renovation, has made its home on one side of the green.
The group also sends some members to participate in things like the Sussex Neighbourhood House Repair Cafe. For those who may feel trepidation about stepping into a community shed with experienced tradespeople, Dave explained “people with very limited skills come in all the time”. Dave shared the story of a young man who walked in one day. “He said ‘I used to do woodworking with my dad and with my grandfather. I miss that now, and I just want to do that again’. Now he’s made two beautiful pieces. If someone comes in with limited skills but wants to make something, you just let them get on with it and wait for them to call out to ask for help with things, like ‘how the hell do you make this joint’?”
Part of the endeavour of the Shed is to teach people how to actually share tools. The Shed’s success and growth depends upon the quality of their tools. The Shed teaches people about what it takes to be responsible for the proper treatment and upkeep of the tools, not just by cleaning them, but by understanding their limits.
MerriCS is running a craft market on 16 February 2025 from 11-3pm, selling plants and locally made goods.
At the time of writing, becoming a member with MerriCS requires a yearly subscription fee ranging from $40 for concession holders, $70 for general membership or $100 for ‘patron’ membership.
Merri-bek Community Shed
19 Harding St Coburg
Open Sunday 9-1pm, Tuesday
5-9pm and Thursday 9-1pm
The Coburg Meddler 