Community Workshop
Athelstone Community Workshop
Rotary Club of Morialta's Community Workshop brings people together to share their skills in craft and woodworking in a social environment. Members attend the Workshop to work on their own woodwork projects or to assist with repair and construction projects for the community… although we think they may just come to hear the whistle blow for morning and afternoon tea, or the monthly BBQ lunch!
New members are always welcome, so if you have woodworking skills, or are keen to learn them in a social environment, please do get in touch!
The Community Workshop offers a repair service to community members, and is available to help community groups to design and construct bespoke timber products (think street libraries cubby houses, signs, tables and more!). So if you have a project you’d like us to work on, please contact us.
The Community Workshop is located in Athelstone, behind the Athelstone Community Hall, Cnr Maryvale and Gorge Road. For information, please contact us!
Operating hours:
Tuesdays 9.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 16.00
Wednesday 9.00 to 12.00
Thursdays 9.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 – 16.00.
Saturday 9.00 to 12.00
History of the Community Workshop
The idea for the Athelstone Community Workshop originated in 2008, when Rotary Club of Morialta members set out to deliver a project that would tackle the growing issue of social isolation in the community, particularly among retirees. After consultation with community members, the Campbelltown City Council and the state member of parliament, we decided to establish a community workshop, which would enable community members (particularly downsizers and those who lacked facilities at home) to engage in woodworking in a social setting, to continue developing their talents, to learn new skills, to share experiences, and to build friendships. It is testament to the energy of the club’s volunteers and supporters that the Athelstone Community Workshop grew from idea to official opening in just ten months – on 13 June, 2009.
Diverging from the ‘Mens Shed’ trend of the time, the Club decided early on to construct a truly inclusive facility, welcoming of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. Over the years, the workshop has steadily grown in membership and capacity. It has over 50 registered members and operates four days a week – managed solely by volunteers and overseen by the Club’s Community Development Committee. The Workshop could not have continued to operate without the immense time and effort contributed by its volunteers. We are also grateful for the invaluable support we have received from the Campbelltown City Council, the South Australian Government, and other Rotary Clubs, both in terms of land, grants, and in-kind technical assistance.
The Community Workshop has become an institution in the communities of Athelstone and Campbelltown. It offers a facility for residents to work on their own projects, and to assist other members by sharing their experience and skills. The Workshop also offers a low-cost repair service for local community members, fixing household and sentimental items. In addition, the Workshop raises revenue to support Rotary initiatives, by designing and constructing products on request, and selling products at markets. We also regularly donate products for community use.
We are grateful to the local resident and business communities, who have been outstanding supporters of the Workshop, providing donations of timber and equipment.
Having already expanded in size in 2016, the Workshop’s popularity led the club to embark on a significant expansion of the facility, which was completed in 2023. The extension has enabled us to substantially increase the capacity of the Workshop for new members, while enabling us to install modernised machinery and safety equipment.
So if you have woodworking skills, or are keen to learn them in a social environment, there is no better time to get in touch or drop in at our Workshop in Athelstone. We'll see you there!