THE Mornington Men’s Shed has celebrated a major milestone, securing a 50-year lease for a permanent home at 311 Racecourse Road.
The move will provide a long-term base for combining its workshops and meeting spaces for the community-focused organisation.
For years, the shed has operated across two separate sites, with its main workshop on Mitchell St and a secondary facility on Wilsons Rd.
The new location, behind the existing Connecting to Australia (C2A) facility, will feature two purpose-built buildings. One will house activities such as woodwork and metalwork, while the other will serve as a quieter meeting space for billiards, cards, and social gatherings.
Each building is expected to be close to 500sqm, allowing for expanded programs and member activities and up to 60 car park spaces. The project, estimated at $2.6m, will include significant site preparation, infrastructure upgrades, and concrete parking to reduce ongoing maintenance.
C2A, which operates The Mornington Hub at 311 Racecourse Rd, has served the community for 70 years, was granted a 50-year new lease at the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 3 December meeting last year.
The project will see C2A expand its service offerings with a café, opportunity shop, short-term accommodation, and modern community spaces. The new facility will also house the support office functions, providing better operational efficiency and employment opportunities for participants.
The lease agreement also extends to the Mornington Men’s Shed, marking a big win for the community group.
The current building at Racecourse Rd has significant structural issues due to aging infrastructure, “making it unsuitable for continued use and necessitating substantial investment to ensure a safe and comfortable environment,” a council report said.
Men’s Shed workshop manager Tony Sinclair said a new space would allow it to grow, support its members, and remain a cornerstone of the community for decades to come.
“We’ve got one part of the shed on Wilsons Rd and the workshop in Mitchell St – they’re about half a kilometre apart and it doesn’t work, as you can imagine,” he said, adding the split made daily operations and community programs challenging, underscoring the need for a unified site.
Beyond the physical facilities, the Men’s Shed prioritises mental health and social wellbeing. Regular morning teas and lunches give members the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and build camaraderie.
“The importance of your growth and the men’s mental health is a very important part of it; you’re able to talk about anything,” Sinclair said.
The shed committee is now preparing to submit planning permission to the shire for the new site while continuing fundraising efforts, which has raised more than $200,000 through community initiatives.
“We’re just getting all our ducks in a row so that everything has been thought of,” Sinclair said.
He also extended the Men’s Shed’s heartfelt thanks to local businesses in support of the project.
Once the development is complete, which is expected to take six months, the Racecourse Rd site will offer a centralised, modern facility that meets both the practical and social needs of its members.
As reported by The News last year, C2A CEO Steven Johnston said the C2A and the Men’s Shed had worked collaboratively to get the “optimal use out of this valuable real estate and provide important services to an even larger slice of the Mornington Peninsula community”.
First published in the Mornington News – 11 March 2026