In the shed

Did you have a space at home that was all to yourself, where you could happily tinker the time away? 

Relive times spent in the shed with a range of activities centered around carpentry, gardening, mechanics, and other hobbies and recreational activities commonly enjoyed in the shed.

A man using a wood lathe.
Man Using a Wood Lathe, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1905.

Playlist

Listen to a selection of songs from the 1940s to the 1970s inspired by tools, gardening, transport, and male identity.

Image slideshow

Download images from Museums Victoria’s collection depicting men’s hobbies and sheds from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Trivia

Test your general knowledge on questions ranging from carpentry to cars.

  


Other activity suggestions

Ploughman’s Lunch

Tuck into the popular 1950s cold lunch of cheese, pickle, and bread commonly referred to as a Ploughman’s Lunch. Spice yours up with some ham, boiled eggs, chutney, and pickled onions if you have them on hand.

Car wash

Give your car a thorough hand wash, buff, and polish!

Gardening

Gardening is scientifically proven to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The mycobacterium found in soil has been found to increases serotonin produced in the brain. Get your hands dirty and improve your mood by getting out into the garden.

Start a project

Set yourself some simple goals and start a project like fixing a bicycle, finishing a simple woodworking project, or even just sort and organise your hardware.

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