Books

The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men

Golding, B 2015, The Men’s Shed Movement : The Company of Men, Common Ground Research Networks, Champaign.

Overview

Invented in Australia, the remarkable men’s shed movement has spread from the back blocks of Australia to reach a total of more than 1,400 Men’s Sheds in diverse countries on opposite sides of the world. This book provides a fascinating, carefully evidenced and definitive story of men’s sheds for the first time. It is a book and movement whose time has come. Many nations are struggling to meet the needs and interests of men beyond the workplace. Over two decades, the men’s shed movement has mushroomed from the ground up to become a strongly networked international movement, not only in Australia, but now Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, and continental Europe. How and why this has happened and what the evidence and research means for service providers, communities and the men in the men’s sheds movement is thoroughly explored. Lead author, Professor Barry Golding, Federation University Australia, is the respected world expert in the field, being a patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association and the winner of the coveted Ted Donnelly Award in 2013 for his “outstanding contribution to the men’s shed movement.” (Goodreads | The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men: A review)

Listing of parts and chapters

Part 1: Introduction p. 1

Chapter 1 Nailing down the Men’s Shed History p. 6

• Some starting definitions p. 6
• What’s the big deal about men’s sheds p. 12
• Men’s shed names: some national variations p. 13
• Men’s shed distribution p. 16
• Global shed distribution p. 27
• Difficulties writing a men’s shed history p. 28
• My proposal for a three way men’s shed definition p. 31
• Invention and innovation: a framework for the book p. 33

Part 2: A Community Men’s Shed History p. 35

Chapter 2: Coming out of the Backyard Shed in Australia p. 37

• Acknowledgements p. 38
• Key threads of the story in South Australia p. 38
• Early discussions about men’s services in South Australia p. 39
• What else was changing for men in Australia during the 1990s? p.45
• A brief introduction to the key ‘shed players’ in South Australia in the 1990s p. 47
• The Goolwa Heritage Club Shed: the first community shed for men p. 49
• The role of backyard men’s shed writer, Mark Thompson p. 58
• The role of South Australian gerontologist, Leon Earle p. 61
• Section: Early Australian Shed Experience p. 64
• The MAC in Albury North (New South Wales) p. 65
• The Broken Hill Workshops p. 66
• The Encounter Centre Workshop in Victor Harbor p. 68
• T.O.Y.S. Workshop, Unley, and other early toy workshops p. 71
• The Shed at Hackham West p. 73
• Claims about other early men’s sheds p. 75
• Other South Australian sheds and their interconnection p. 78
• The war veteran and XMRC shed connections p. 86
• An early community shed history p. 90

Chapter 3: Early Australia Men’s Sheds and State Associations p. 93

• An early Australian Men’s shed chronology p. 93
• Section: Early Men’s Shed in each Australian State p. 95
• New South Wales men’s shed early history p. 95
• The development of the New South Wales men’s shed association p. 112
• Victorian Men’s shed early history p. 145
• The development of the Victorian Men’s Shed Association p. 143
• South Australian Men’s shed early history p. 149
• The development of the South Australian Men’s shed association p. 153
• Tasmanian Men’s Shed early history p. 154
• The development of the Tasmanian Men’s shed association p. 160
• Western Australian Men’s shed early history p. 162
• The development of the Western Australian Men’s shed association p. 172
• Queensland Men’s shed early history p. 173
• The development of Queensland Men’s shed association p.175

Chapter 4: The Men’s Shed Movement in Australia p. 178

• Some early linking up from 2004 p. 178
• The development of the Australian Men’s shed association p. 183

Chapter 5: The Men’s Shed Movements in Ireland, the UK, New Zealand and Elsewhere p. 200

• Men’s sheds in Ireland p. 200
• The role of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) p. 206
• Origin and development of the Men’s sheds in the UK p. 208
• The development of UK Men’s sheds Association p. 216
• Men’s Sheds Crymru (Welsh Men’s Sheds Association) p. 219
• Scottish Men’s Association p. 220
• Origin and development of Men’s sheds in New Zealand p. 223
• The development of MENZSHED NZ p. 229
• Reflections on growth of New Zealand Men’s sheds p. 232
• Men’s sheds elsewhere in the world p. 234
  • Insights from international exchanges p. 234
  • An international association p. 236
  • Men’s sheds in Europe p. 237
  • Men’s sheds in Canada p. 239

Men’s sheds in the US p. 242

Part 3: Men’s Shed Innovation and Diversity p. 243

Men’s shed diversity across four countries p. 243

Chapter 6: Australian Men’s Sheds p. 246

• Innovative Australian men’s sheds p. 246
• New and cutting edge Australian Men’s sheds p. 257

Chapter 7: Irish Men’s Sheds p. 264

• Early pioneer Irish Men’s sheds p. 264
• Innovative Irish Men’s sheds p. 272
• Remarkable Irish Men’s sheds p. 281
• New and cutting edge Irish Men’s sheds p. 286

Chapter 8: UK Men’s Sheds p. 291

• Early pioneer UK Men’s Sheds p. 291
• Innovative UK men’s sheds p. 298
• Remarkable UK Men’s sheds p. 304
• New and cutting edge UK Men’s sheds p. 309

Chapter 9: New Zealand Men’s Sheds p. 317

• Early pioneer sheds in New Zealand p. 317
• Innovative New Zealand Men’s sheds p. 326
• Remarkable New Zealand Men’s sheds p. 331
• New and cutting edge New Zealand Men’s sheds p.336

Part IV: Conclusions after Two Decades of Men’s Sheds p. 339

Chapter 10: Research Evidence from Men’s Sheds p. 340

• 10.1 What research is available p. 340
• 10.2 The Evidence p. 347

Chapter 11: Men’s Shed Theory and Practice p. 348

• What are the tensions and paradoxes? p. 368
• Setting up a Men’s shed: Some practical issues p. 383

Chapter 12: Men’s Shed Issues, Trends, and Possibilities p. 391

• What implications does men’s shed practice have for other services p. 391
• Where else might men’s sheds work? p. 393
• Did the men’s shed movement come out of previous Men’s Movements? p. 394
• What are the current trends? p. 396
• What re the future possibilities? p. 397
• The final big picture p. 400
• Postscript p. 404

Book: Shoulder to Shoulder : Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement

Golding, B 2021, Shoulder to Shoulder : Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement, Common Ground Research Networks, Champaign.

Review

In the six years since The Men’s Sheds Movement book in 2015, the Movement has broadened to include many other nations and also Women’s Sheds, encompassing almost 3,000 Sheds worldwide to 2021.

Shoulder to Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement shines a light on the transformational experiences and positive impact that Sheds have had on the lives, health, and wellbeing of men, women, families, and communities.

The book’s many powerful Men’s and Women’s Shed case studies highlight how shared, hands-on social activity by ‘shedders’ can reduce the potentially destructive forces of loneliness and social isolation, even during a global pandemic. It’s about the universal value of “having somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk with,” as envisaged in the very first Australian Men’s Shed in 1998.

Informative, insightful, easy to read, and carefully researched, Shoulder to Shoulder provides a well-documented tour de force of this globally expanding and broadening international movement.’ (Goodreads | Shoulder to Shoulder)

Listing of chapters

Chapter 1 : Setting the scene
Chapter 2: Men’s Sheds in Australia
Chapter 3: Men’s Sheds in the UK 
Chapter 4: Men’s Sheds in Ireland
Chapter 5: Men’s Sheds in New Zealand / Aotearoa
Chapter 6: Men’s Sheds in the US
Chapter 7: Men’s Sheds in Canada
Chapter 8: Men’s Sheds (Maends Modesteder) in Denmark 
Chapter 9: Men’s Sheds Elsewhere
Chapter 10: Women’s Sheds Worldwide
Chapter 11: Men’s Shed Research Evidence since 2014
Chapter 12: Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement

About the Author/Editor

Professor Barry Golding AM, Honorary Professor in adult and community education of Federation University Australia in Ballarat since June 2021. From 2011-13 he was Associate Dean, Research, School of Education & Arts at University of Ballarat, Australia; and founder of the RAVE (Researching Adult & Vocational Education) Group. (Barry Golding | About)

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Where to find

Where to buy

Youtube Videos

Men’s Shed Canada Presents Dr. Barry Golding

In 2024, Men’s Shed Canada invited Dr. Barry Golding to present his research findings on the development of Men’s sheds from its beginnings in South Australia and Victoria from the mid-1990s to present day. Dr. Golding presented a 40 minute slideshow reviewing his and fellow researchers findings. Much of the findings have been the subject his two books, The Men’s Shed Movement : The Company of Men in 2015 and Shoulder to Shoulder : Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement in 2021. Following the presentation, another 40 minutes was given over to a Q & A session.

YouTube Video: 2025 Men’s shed Canada impact Video

This 12 minute video presents a vision of the impact of the Men’s shed movement across Canada in bringing a safe space for men to meet. 

Men’s sheds Associations

Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA)

Website URL: https://mensshed.org/

The Australian Men’s Shed Association is the national service provider to more than 1,300 Sheds in Australia.
Our Mission is to to promote, advance, and support an effective and sustainable Men’s Shed movement by bringing men together enabling them to lead a positive lifestyle while strengthening communities. We provide practical support, specialised services and resources, and men’s health programs and initiatives, to support Men’s & Community Sheds grow as vibrant and thriving community hubs all over Australia. (AMSA | About Us)

Men’s Shed Canada (MSCA)

Website URL: https://mensshedscanada.ca

A registered charity, Men’s Sheds Canada (MSC) was formed in 2022 to support both the strengthening of existing Sheds and the expansion of new Sheds across the country. Although a relatively new organization, we have emerged as a driving force for innovation within the men’s health sector and are at the forefront of addressing the pressing issues of men’s mental health and social isolation. (MSC | Men’s Sheds Canada)

UK Men’s Shed Association (UKSA)

Website URL: https://menssheds.org.uk/

We are UK Men’s Sheds Association, the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK. We work hard to inspire and support the development of as many Men’s Sheds as possible, for the benefit of men’s health and wellbeing. We are a member organisation, representing UK-based Men’s Sheds. We raise awareness of the Men’s Sheds movement and the many benefits of Shedding and we support Men’s Sheds in getting off the ground and thriving as community-driven, member-led entities. We don’t own or manage Men’s Sheds, but we champion them for miles around.
Our mission is to enable access to a Men’s Shed for every man that would benefit from one and we won’t stop until we’ve achieved it. (UKMSA | About UKMSA)

International Men’s Shed Association (IMSA)

The Men’s Sheds Movement started in Australia in the 1990’s and is gradually spreading around the world, enriching men’s lives as it grows.
There are National Men’s Sheds Associations in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Scotland and Wales with Men’s Sheds in other countries too such as the USA and Sweden.
It is estimated that the number of Men’s Sheds globally is approaching 1,800 supporting an estimated 100,000 men.
This website is one of the first actions to be supported by the International Men’s Sheds Organisation which is being set up to support the development of Men’s Sheds Associations in Countries around the world.
We feel that the National Men’s Sheds Associations are doing a fantastic job in supporting the development of Men’s Sheds in their own countries and we want assist them in their great work. We also aim to help Men’s Sheds get started in countries where there is not yet a national association.’ ( IMSO | About Men’s Sheds)

References

• Australian Men’s Shed Association 2025, Australian Men’s Shed Association, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://mensshed.org/>. This is the official website of the Australian Men’s Shed Association.
• Australian Men’s Shed Association 2025, Mount Compass Community Shed, viewed on 27 September, 2025, <https://mensshed.org/sheds/mount-compass-community-shed/>. This page provides information about the community shed located in Mount Compass.
• Golding, B 2015, The Men’s Shed Movement : The Company of Men, Common Ground Research Networks, Champaign.
• Golding, B 2021, Men’s Sheds:  2021 Men’s Shed Book, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://barrygoanna.com/mens-sheds/>. This page provides information about the Golding’s 2021 including a listing of chapters, contact and order details, as well as background details of its research and collaboration with other chapter authors.
• Goodreads 2025, The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26396618-the-men-s-shed-movement>. This page provides information for purchasing the 2015 The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men.
• Goodreads 2025, Shoulder to Shoulder: Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59139578-shoulder-to-shoulder?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=yS8PF66Ig3&rank=13>. This page provides an overview of the content of Barry Golding’s 2021 book: Shoulder to Shoulder.
• International Men’s Sheds Organisation 2025, International Men’s Sheds Organisation (IMSO), viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://menshed.com/>. This is the official website of the International Men’s Sheds Organisation (IMSO)
• Men’s Shed Canada 2024, Men’s Shed Canada Presents Dr. Barry Golding, viewed on 27 September, 2025, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8aAh8NB8m0>. This 1 hour 18 minutes provides information about the development of Men’s Sheds.
• Men’s Shed Canada 2025, 2025 Men’s shed Canada impact Video, viewed on 27 September, 2025, <https://youtu.be/s7OEbPrMCC4?si=F4FmNNexqyU1-Gk0>. This 12 minute video discusses the impact of the Men’s shed movement across Canada.
• Men’s Sheds Canada 2025, History of Men’s Sheds, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://mensshedscanada.ca/history-of-mens-sheds/>. This page provides a history of Men’s sheds including how it started in Australia, its global spread, and how the Men’s Sheds started in Canada.
• UK Men’s Sheds Association 2025, UK Men’s Sheds Association, viewed on 2 October, 2025, <https://menssheds.org.uk/>. This is the official website of the UK Men’s Shed association.