The nomadic Newcastle Men's Shed hopes it has finally found a permanent home at Broadmeadow.
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The organisation has moved from rented premises five times in the past five years but has preliminary approval from Sydney Trains to use two buildings at the abandoned Broadmeadow locomotive depot.
The men's shed has applied to City of Newcastle to change the buildings' classification to community use then will go back to transport officials for final approval.
"It's a long process, but it's probably more promising than anything we've had in the last five years," secretary Wayne Grant said.
The group had to move out of the former Regal Motors site in Newcastle West four weeks ago and has found a home of sorts in a building behind the Westpac bank in Beaumont Street, Hamilton.
Mr Grant said the men's shed's regular moves had taken a toll on membership, which was 80 two years ago, fell to 35 a month ago but has climbed back to about 50.
"It's a drain on our health where we should be concentrating on looking after men's health," he said.
"The constant moving, the constant having it hanging over your head that you're only going to be in a place for 12 months or six months.
"Things are just starting to fall into place for us after so much heartache every time you've got to move."
He hoped the men's shed would eventually install its larger machinery at Broadmeadow but maintain a presence in Hamilton for the work it does "rebirthing" old computers for charities and making toys.
"If we can get in to the railways site, we can get set up. It's probably more conducive to a men's shed because of the size of it. It's got a couple of buildings on it."
The men's shed, which is open five days a week, is helping some of its members cope with the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Some have lost jobs, some have lost partners, some have moved into apartments in town and haven't got a garage or workshop any more.
"Looking after men's health, getting them out of the isolation, out from in front of the TV and away from the wife for a while is what we're about."
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Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
