Men's Shed

What Men's Shed does

Bowral Men's Shed Inc. is a community nonprofit organization founded on 12 June 2003 and headquartered at 28 Bendooley Street, Bowral, NSW, Australia. It operates three fully equipped workshops covering woodworking, metalworking, and computing/electronics, providing approximately 40 members with access to professional-grade tools (including a 500x400mm CNC machine, 50W CO2 laser cutter/engraver, ClearVue Cyclone dust extraction, Tormek T7 sharpener, Original Prusa I3 MK3S+ 3D printer, Coronet Herald wood lathe, and Detroit 12-speed drill press) and a computing room running Windows 10 and Linux with NBN VDSL internet.

The organization serves retired and older men in the Bowral and Southern Highlands region who have often downsized their living arrangements and lost access to personal workshop space. It addresses social isolation and loss of purpose in retirement by offering a structured environment for skill-sharing, learning, project work, and community contribution. Programming includes Arduino/Raspberry Pi electronics projects, MIDI organ modification, and home monitoring systems using RFM12B RF devices. Operating hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08:00 to 14:30.

Revenue is generated primarily through membership subscriptions (A$6/week, A$20/year, A$30 insurance), a A$50 joining fee, and the sale of handcrafted woodwork and metalwork items (Indian Myna bird traps at A$60, boot stands A$55-A$75, wine holders A$35-A$50). Capital expenditure is supported by small grants from Veolia Mulwaree Trust, IMB Community Foundation, and AMSA. The entity is governed by an elected committee including President (Darryl Purnell), Vice President (John Carter), Secretary (John Chapman), Treasurer (Norm Dodds), Workshop Manager (David Peacock), Welfare Officer (Chris Brangwin), IT Coordinator (Peter McGufficke), and Public Officer (Henry Wroniak) for the 2025/2026 term.

Name

Men's Shed

Legal name

Bowral Men's Shed Inc.

Website

https://mensshed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bowral Men's Shed Inc. is a community nonprofit in Bowral, NSW, operating three workshops (wood, metal, computing/electronics) for approximately 40 retired and older men to socialize, share skills, and pursue hands-on projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Workshop Services

NAICS

Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers (444)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Mounting & Assembly (patio furniture, pergolas, sheds kits) (HSAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wood Remanufacturing (Mouldings, Millwork Blanks, Cut Stock) (IMAMABAI)

Keywords

• Community workshop facilities
• Men's social programs
• Woodworking and metalworking
• Electronics and computing
• Community nonprofit organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowral

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Members pay weekly subscriptions and annual membership fees to access the shed's facilities, tools, and community. Revenue is recurring on a weekly/annual cadence.
2. Joining Fee: One-time joining fee of $50 upon membership enrollment, which includes a branded T-Shirt and Cap with the BMS logo.
3. Annual Member Insurance Fee: Annual member's insurance fee of $30 payable on 1st March, contributing to operational costs.
4. Product Sales: The shed designs and makes woodwork and metalwork items for sale, including bird feeders, garden pot holders, gates, boot stands, wine bottle holders, and Indian Myna Bird Traps. Revenue is one-time transaction based.
5. Grant Funding: The shed receives grants from community trusts and foundations (Veolia Mulwaree Trust, IMB Community Foundation, AMSA) to purchase equipment. These are non-dilutive funding contributions supporting capital expenditure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bowral Men's Shed Inc. operates a community workshop facility offering access to three fully equipped workshops (Woodworking, Metalworking, and Computing/Electronics) where members pay subscription fees to work on personal projects, learn skills, and socialize. The organization also produces and sells handcrafted woodwork and metalwork items such as bird feeders, boot stands, and wine bottle holders.

Product overview

Bowral Men's Shed Inc. operates as a community social enterprise offering access to three fully equipped workshops (Woodworking, Metalworking, and Computing/Electronics) where members can work on personal projects, learn new skills, and contribute to community initiatives. The organization is structured around a membership program providing workshop access, training, and equipment use. Revenue is generated through membership fees ($50 joining fee, $20 annual, $30 insurance, $6 weekly subscription) and the sale of handcrafted wood and metal items. Grant-funded equipment acquisitions including a Prusa 3D printer and Coronet Herald wood lathe expand member capabilities. The 40-member organization (established 2003) serves as a place for retired men to socialize, share skills, and remain productive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Woodworking Workshop Fully equipped woodwork facility with comprehensive tools for various projects, including a ClearVue Cyclone Dust Extraction unit, Tormek T7 tool sharpening machine, CNC machine (500x400mm table), and 50 Watt CO2 laser cutter for engraving and cutting.
• Metalworking Workshop Metalworking facility with equipment for shaping hot or cold steel, welding, cutting, and motorised gardening equipment maintenance. Staffed by experienced members who provide training and guidance.
• Computing Workshop Computer workshop equipped with multiple PCs running Windows 10 and Linux, inkjet and laser printers, scanners, and high-speed NBN VDSL internet with Wi-Fi. Provides assistance with general computer problems, Gmail accounts, and internet issues.
• Electronics Workshop Hands-on electronics facility supporting projects using micro-controllers (Arduino Uno, esp8266) and microprocessors (Raspberry Pi). Offers help with programming these devices and provides resources for electronic project development.
• Bowral Men's Shed Membership Community membership program providing access to three fully equipped workshops (wood, metal, computing/electronics), training, and participation in personal and community projects. Membership includes weekly sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays (08:00-14:30), annual insurance, and branded merchandise upon joining.
• Wood and Metal Items for Sale

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced social isolation among retired men through regular community engagement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bowral Uniting ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bowral Uniting Church helped open the Bowral Men's Shed on 12th June 2003 alongside other community partners including Uniting Care North Sydney, Aging and Disability, and Wham.
• Uniting Care North SydneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniting Care North Sydney was one of the founding partners that helped open the Bowral Men's Shed in 2003, alongside Bowral Uniting Church, Aging and Disability, and Wham.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Reverse Garbage Queensland: An Australian community organization focused on creative reuse, repair, and maker activities. Shares the workshop and community-engagement ethos with Men's Sheds but operates in a different thematic space (sustainability/reuse rather than retired men's fellowship).
• Sydney Community Workshop: A community-access workshop in Sydney offering woodworking and metalworking facilities, similar in spirit to a Men's Shed but operating as a paid subscription makerspace rather than a fellowship-based community organization. Comparable in workshop activities but distinct in operating model.
• The Tool Library: A community tool-lending organization operating in multiple Australian cities that shares the workshop-equipment-access concept with Men's Sheds but does not have the same social/skill-sharing focus. Comparable in the community workshop ethos but with a different operational model.

Direct peers

• Australian Men's Shed Association: The national peak body for over 1,200 Men's Sheds across Australia, providing the program framework, advocacy, and National Shed Development Programme grants that Bowral Men's Shed participates in. AMSA is the direct institutional counterpart and the network that Bowral Men's Shed operates within.
• Wollongong Men's Shed: A nearby NSW Men's Shed in the Illawarra region offering the same community workshop model with woodworking, metalworking, and social engagement for retired men. Directly comparable in scope, equipment, and member base.
• Hornsby Shire Men's Shed: An Australian Men's Shed in the Hornsby Shire (NSW) operating the same community workshop model with similar member demographics, woodworking/metalworking focus, and partnership with AMSA. Directly comparable in activities, target market, and revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Mitre 10: A major Australian hardware and home improvement chain (cooperative of independent retailers) competing with Bunnings, offering the same categories of tools, lumber, and hardware that Men's Shed members and customers use. Provides complementary rather than overlapping service.
• Bunnings Warehouse: Australia's largest hardware and home improvement retailer, serving DIY and trade customers with the same categories of products (lumber, tools, hardware) that the Bowral Men's Shed uses and sells. Bunnings is the broad incumbent in the hardware/workshop space that Men's Shed members frequent for supplies.

Regional players

• New Zealand Men's Shed Trust: The national Men's Shed organization in New Zealand, supporting community workshops with a virtually identical model to Bowral Men's Shed. Operates the same community-of-older-men workshop concept but is geographically separate.
• UK Men's Shed Association: The UK equivalent of AMSA, supporting community workshops for older men across the UK. Operates the same Shed model with shared focus on skill-sharing, social connection, and hobbyist workshop activities, but based in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/men's-shed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Men's Shed