Visit date: Monday 25th February 2019.
Visit arranged with Ken Buckley; next morning I set off by taxi, as I had decided that was the best way for me to find the Shed. However, Sandringham Road is a long road, but could we find the Shed address number of 225B? No! We could find a house numbered 225, but no 225B, or 225A.
So, after a few questions with locals, the entrance was finally found to be down the narrow lane named Cabbage Tree Swamp Drive.
Tucked behind the Rugby Club clubhouse (obviously 225A) was another two-storey building festooned with scaffolding, the ground floor door had the sign: ‘Auckland Community Shed’ above it.
Entering, I was met by Ken, who introduced me to the other members that were there, and the kettle was put on.
Nattering whilst drinking the tea, I asked why the park had such a funny name, and was told that the land was originally a large farm owned by the Gribble family, was named Cabbage Tree Swamp Farm. Then one of the daughters married a man with the surname of Hirst bought part of the farm. Then in 1930, the two families donated the lands to the local Council for use by the community, and thus was named ‘Gribblehirst Park’. The Rugby Club and a Bowls Club have since been built on part of the park, but the Bowls Club closed a number of years ago, and fell into disrepair, hence the scaffolding. The exterior is currently being refurbished by the local council who are paying for the replacement of cladding, repainting, and replacing all the old windows and frames with new ones that are fitted with safety glass so as to comply with modern safety and building regulations. All at no cost to the Shed or other occupants. Two adjacent derelict bowling greens are used by others for open storage.
After the Bowls Club closed, the building was vacant and unmaintained for 6 or 7 years before the Shed gained access and occupancy of the ground floor in 2015. The local council has recently granted the Shed a ‘Three Year’ extending lease agreement.
The Shed building has a total floor area of 400m2. From the lobby, the inner door leads into a large woodworking shop (floor area 200m3. In the corner can be seen the footprint of the old Club Bar and behind it is the old Beer cellar that now serves as a lockable power tool store. From the workshop can be found the office, toilets, mess room, Engineering workshop (floor area of 170 m2, a Computer Room with a 3D Printer, and storerooms, all well organised and tidy.
It’s a bit like being in a ‘TARDIS’.
Funding and sponsorship come from the usual sources, but like elsewhere, raising capital is hard.
The Shed pays a ‘peppercorn’ rent of NZ$1 per year, and a nominal fee of NZ$500 per year to cover maintenance and running costs.
Of interest, is an informal arrangement the lads have made with the local council. The lads have found out that when any maintenance jobs need doing to the Shed, if they put in an estimated price under the NZ$1000 threshold as sat by the council, then jobs under that price seem to be paid without further ado. No questions asked!
In fact, when setting up the machine shop, the lads realised that they needed a three-phase power supply installed. The installation was costed under NZ$1000, and ‘Bingo’! They must have friends in high places!
Membership currently stands at 90 signed up on the books, including 5 females. Of those, around 25 are active at any one time on projects. The membership fee is NZ$100 per year.
Members are charged for tea or coffee, but there is a donations box in the kitchen that does accumulate a reasonable number of dollars.
The estimated annual income ranges from NZ$5,000 to NZ$10,000 from the membership fees, plus funding grants from local council for specific purchases (machinery, etc).
Running costs are hard to evaluate, as they are dependent on consumables and other repairs that can occur, so on average costs run between NZ$200 to NZ$300 per month.
A recent project to build a portable dancefloor for the local council earned the lads NZ$6000.
Other community projects such as repairing items for the elderly or needy are charged a nominal fee.
Health & Safety: New Zealand has an “Accident Compensation” system to cover injuries and as long as the Shed does not employ paid staff, then the Shed avoids complying with the NZ Health & Safety rules. However, many of the members are professional, and ensure that members and equipment are kept as safe as possible, because there is a duty of care responsibility.
The problems with receiving, collecting or disposing of duplicate tools and equipment is easily solved, as these items are given to the Lions Club International who send them to the Pacific Islands.
For more information: www.aucklandcentralshed.org.nz
Martin's OZ and NZ Shed Stories 