The Noosa Men’s Shed has been in operation since September 2014 with 200 members. Located on the site of the old Unity Water facilities the sheds have grown to include a woodworking shed, metalworking shed, art studio, hobby shed and a cobber's shed.

The "Long Shed", an ex-army Vietnam War era pre-fabricated building, is the social centre of the facility and includes a kitchen, library, seating area and first aid room.

Brief History of Noosa Men’s Shed

Les MacKenzie came to Noosa district from Gladstone where he had been a shed member. In February 2014, he placed an article in the local Noosa paper seeking expressions of interest in the formation of a shed. Responses were invited by phone, and the results were encouraging. Les and a neighbour, Owen Curtis, talked to community groups about support.

By April, it was clear there was enough interest and prospective members received an unofficial newsletter advising there were two Rotary clubs willing to support a shed start-up. It was the Rotary Club of Noosa Heads led by Tess Alexandroff that stepped up to provide support for an initial meeting and provide access to temporary banking facilities.

On the 17th June, a founding meeting was held at the Salvation Army hall in Bartlett Street and attracted 35 people. An executive was appointed and was requested to do all things necessary to incorporate and progress the Shed’s establishment. The office bearers appointed were Peter Magarry, President, Ian Broadfoot, Secretary and Noel Young, Treasurer. Noel Young lodged the application for incorporation as an Association operating under the guidelines and control of the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.

Shortly after commencement, Noel Young withdrew from the executive team and was replaced by Ray McEwan. Ray’s wife, Margaret, an experienced club treasurer, provided invaluable support to the new group.  Ray remained an active member until his premature death in 2023.

The new organization set about the task of finding a home.  Several locations were evaluated, and the most likely early prospect was a potential sublease of a Sunshine Coast Council owned site occupied by the House with No Steps charity at Doonan. Noosa Men’s Shed went as far as to convert a disused house on the site for shed purposes but arrangements with NWNS were never formalized and there was concern that the location was too far from Noosa to be successful in the longer term.

It was welcome news when councillor Joe Juresivic advised that Noosa Council’s CEO had been in discussion with the CEO of Unitywater and made arrangements for NMS to be offered the use of the site it now occupies. Unitywater’s property manager, Greg Barnett, arranged for the group to inspect what had formerly been the site of Noosa Council’s water treatment works. Use of the site had been discontinued in the 1990s. Facilities remaining on the site were a small brick building that had been a laboratory, an even smaller brick structure that had been the location of a chlorine injection system and a partially useable road network.
Although next to the current sewage treatment plant, operated by Unitywater’s then contractor, Suez, NMS was excited by the prospect of being able to build a base so well located to the population centre. Arrangements were made to secure a Shared Permit to Occupy for a period of two five-year terms. This has now been rolled forward for a further term.  Query !!

NMS undertook to keep the site clean, tidy and useful and to facilitate Unitywater’s 24-hour access while restricting use to the conduct of a men’s shed. The arrangement has been hugely beneficial and is the underpinning of the group’s successful growth to service over 220 members (as at 2025).
Apart from ensuring the removal of asbestos, which was funded and carried out by Unitywater, the Shed has been allowed to flourish independently with comprehensive support and ready approval of UnityWater. Noosa Council and numerous local businesses have been keen, loyal, supporters.

Shed milestones in the first five years

• Redevelopment of the gardens, landscaping and extension of the road network

• Refurbishment of the laboratory, initially as club rooms and now as the Hobby Shed

• Conversion of the chlorine building into a Wood Shed (three stages)

• Construction of the Metal Shed, two stages, (aided by the Qld Community Fund)

• Building of the Studio inspired by the donation of a carport roof from the Catholic Church at Tewantin

• Erection of the ‘Long Shed’ following a donation of a Vietnam War kit building by the Australian Army (See more history about the long shed)

• Setting up of the honey bee and native bee production systems

• The first NMS Open Day in April 2017

• Construction of the Cobber’s Shed (Stage One), the honey and aquaculture facilities, the Paint and Electrician’s Sheds

• Noosa Rotary Club assisted with the positioning and painting in 2023 of two shipping containers (previously used to store hospital equipment)

• A new roof was built over the containers in 2024.

Milestones in the second five-years

•  Establishment of the NMS Band – The Hip Replacements

• Flagpole erected

• Garden tool ISO container and Potting Shed relocated

• The first exercise class held in the Long Shed

• Beekeepers’ Shed built (two versions)

• New Office and Health & Activities Shed built

• More extensions to the Cobbers’ Shed

• Hydroponics Shed established in the old Potting Shed

• New covered area built for the compost worm farms

• Public address system to cover the NMS site

• Outside carpark

• Verandah installed on the front of the Metal Shed

• Major renovation of Hobby Shed to include a toilet block

• The Ray McEwan Shed for sausage sizzle storage

• New Potting Shed at rear of vegetable garden

• Amateur radio station VK4NMS and antenna mast

• Epoxy floor covering for the Long Shed

• Honour boards unveiled at the tenth anniversary celebrations

• Second band, MOJO established

• The original asphalt road re-surfaced

The NMS provides a hugely worthwhile service to the community and older men generally. Members take many opportunities to give something back through their participation as volunteers at community events.