Yankalilla and Districts
Community Men's Shed Inc

A welcoming community space where men of all skill levels can engage in hands on activities, learn, and socialise.

What is the Yankalilla Men’s Shed?

The Yankalilla Men’s Shed is a local, informal space where men in our community can gather to socialise or get involved in activities like woodworking, metalworking, and restoring or repairing old furniture, objects, and machines.

It offers a place for men to stay socially active and form friendships, creating new opportunities for interaction and engagement after work or for those who are still employed and have spare time. Members include everyone from men using tools for the first time to experienced woodworkers and metalworkers keen to maintain and develop their skills.

The environment at the Yankalilla Men’s Shed is supportive and encouraging, no matter a man’s level of ability. There’s a strong emphasis on learning new skills, supporting one another, and collaborating together.

The activities available at the Yankalilla Men’s Shed are as diverse as the members themselves.

Some of the activities include:

A third of our members simply socialise.
Members’ personal projects.
Making and repairing furniture.
Learning to use a variety of workshop tools.
Social events such as BBQs and Wednesday night communal dinners.
Creating items and working at BBQs at markets and Bunnings to raise funds for the Yankalilla Men’s Shed.
Making projects for the community, such as toys and teepees for the Childcare Centre, chairs and tables for the Surf and Tennis Clubs, memorial seats for the golf course, Mental Health Tree of Life plaques, bookshelves for Club Fleurieu, nesting boxes for pygmy possums to aid bushfire recovery, native bee hotels, and more.

The main purpose of the Yankalilla Men’s Shed is to provide men with a space to engage in hands-on activities and interact with other men, fostering a sense of meaning and value through the process of completing projects together.

Through shared experiences at the Yankalilla Men’s Shed, members form friendships, spend time chatting with others, and build a sense of camaraderie. This creates a network of emotional support and develops a sense of belonging, encouraging communication—something often less common among men.

The health and wellbeing benefits of the Yankalilla Men’s Shed, particularly in terms of preventative and mental health, are perhaps its greatest advantage. The Shed also offers an environment where productivity and contributing to the community help enhance a man’s sense of self-worth, offering a sense of purpose during the years following retirement, loss, or other challenges.

Shed Activities

At the Yankalilla Men’s Shed, we focus on general woodworking and metalworking for the community, alongside sales to help keep the doors open. We have a laser engraver and CNC router, as well as a range of other woodworking machines to support a variety of projects.