First conceived in 2014, Orange City Council made serious moves to start the shed the following year and Wangarang Industries offered a site.

“It became a project of Wangarang and that enabled us to seek funding for the building,” chief executive Kevin McGuire said.

Since then, the company has successfully applied for $60,000-worth of philanthropic and government grants to cement the floor, enclose the shed, install a roller door and create a car park and injected about $20,000 of its own money.

Mr McGuire said thousands more were provided in-kind.

“The whole community has contributed to where it is,” he said.

Michelle Einsaar has been a member for more than two years and joined because she was a single mother.

“I wanted to do something to get out of the house – I always helped my dad with different jobs and I thought I would enjoy building stuff,” she said. 

The shed has enabled her to accomplish many jobs without a tradesman – on one occasion, Ms Einsaar and a fellow member managed to replace a set of taps without a plumber.

“We were ready to phone for help if we needed it, but we managed that alright and saved money,” she said.

She said she had learned about project planning, safe handling of tools and which materials to use.

“I’ve built a couple of bench seats for the backyard and I use recycled timber as much as I can,” she said.

She said it was now common to find groups of ladies discussing materials in the middle of the screw or bathroom fitting isles and it also helped their confidence when they sought a quote.

“The widowed women have a shed of tools and in those days, when their husbands were alive, many weren’t allowed to touch the tools,” she said.

“It’s been really good for them learning how to use them.”

The next goal is a demountable building for a lunch and meeting room.

Orange Women’s Shed meets from 10am to 1pm on Wednesdays from February.