Moree Men's Shed will finally have a brand new shed to call their own, two years since their search for a new home began.
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Last week the slab of concrete was laid for the new shed and by Wednesday, the framework had started to go up.
The new shed is expected to be completed in about three weeks, and Moree Men's Shed president Peter Sampson said it's exciting to see it finally take shape.
"This has been in the pipeline for a couple of years," he said.
"We had to go through a bit of red tape but it's finally starting to happen.
"I think it's going to be a major improvement on what we have, although we do appreciate being able to have the shed we have now."
The men had been looking to relocate premises since July 2017, as their current shed on the north-western side of Moree Showground is built on low-lying ground next to the Mehi River and, as a result, has lived through multiple floods.
The last big flood in February 2012 saw 1.5 metres of water fill the shed, destroying everything, while a few months before, in November 2011, flood water rose to 900 metres in the building.
The men were concerned that when the next big flood comes, they will lose all the machinery and tools that they've worked so hard to accumulate over the years. Their current shed, which is more than 60 years old, also has no bathroom or kitchen facilities, or air-conditioning, and is crowded and dusty.
And now, work has finally begun on their new shed, which is being built on higher ground on the southern end of Moree Showground, adjacent to McElhone Street.
The new shed, which is slightly bigger than the old one, will include a proper kitchenette, so the men can enjoy their morning teas in a dust-proof area, a wheelchair accessible bathroom, a soundproof room for noisy machinery and another sealed, dust-proof room for finishing projects off.
"It'll be a big difference," Mr Sampson said.
It's also hoped the new shed will attract a few more men to the group, which currently has about 20 members.
"We've already got five new members in the last six weeks," Mr Sampson said.
"When this is up, our big Men's Shed sign will be on the road side of the building and hopefully that will attract more members."
Once the shed is built, the men's next project will be to fit-out the new building. In March 2018, they received a $10,000 donation from the Commonwealth Bank which they hope to use to partially fit it out, also using funds they've raised from projects in the shed.
"We do applaud the effort of everybody that's contributed for us to get this building," Mr Sampson said.
The men hope to be in their new shed in the next three to four months.
