Albury Women’s Shed has set up its temporary premises in the former Woolstore building in Smollett Street, with an open day on Saturday aimed at encouraging more members to join.

A going concern since last July, the women’s shed has spent most of its time trying to find a place to meet and carry out the hands-on projects its members seek. 

President Maree Menz said this had proven the group’s biggest challenge.

“You just can’t have a room anywhere, because if you’re going to be doing banging, cutting, sawing, things like that, then you need somewhere maybe not in a residential area,” she said.

An Albury Council budget announcement this month will see Albury Women’s Shed share premises with Thurgoona Men’s Shed after a new shed is built in 2019.

But in the interim Woolstore building owner John Colquhoun has been happy to lease space to the developing women’s group.

Link Real Estate director Mark Hawkins and commercial property manager and administration Peter Blomeley understood the importance of a fixed base.

“We thought we’ve got some space here, short term, help them out, get them established so that they can get their grants,” Mr Hawkins said.

“It will give them something to establish themselves, that’s the hardest bit, that’s what the men’s shed went through. This enables them to do what they set out to do, that’s train one another and learn different skills.”

Mr Blomeley said Mr Colquhoun had been keen to assist.

"He jumped at the idea,” the agent said. “At the moment it’s for six months but if they need it longer than that, John will be fine with that.”

Ms Menz said Saturday’s open day would double as a working bee as they organised their new area.

“We just thought ladies might be down town or whatever and so they’re welcome to come and talk to us, join up, see what we do,” she said.

“We really want women to become involved because it is for them, it’s about giving them skills to be able to manage little things, mainly, there’s just little jobs where you don’t want to have to get someone.

“A lot of women just may not know how to use a hammer properly or a saw or different things like that, so there's some skilling-up things that need to be done first. Eventually we hope to do projects that raise funds and things like that for the community.”