Local resident William "Bill" Marshall has been keeping an eye on an old workshop and laundry shed from the 1930s. Built by local cabinet maker and
shopfitter Jimmy Gibson, this is no ordinary shed.
"He built it like a piece of furniture, no shortcuts, no flimsy
weatherboards," Bill says.
"Every joint is tight, every bit of timber solid; you can tell he meant for it to last."
The timber? Cypress pine sawn right here on the island. Nearly a hundred years later, the little workshop/laundry still stands, a testament to Gibson's craftsmanship. The building's asbestos cladding has been removed and it's now being prepared for relocation. But a new home is needed for the shed to survive.
Bill and other locals have a dream; to turn it into a small museum or community space where Macleay Island history can be shared.
"I'm dreaming out loud and hope we can share the vision," Bill says.
"There are lots of places, like the RSL, that don't have a meeting spot and this could be it!"
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Bill has offered some of his own old building items, including leadlight doors, to help make it happen. From the original demolition, a petrol driven washing machine was saved and is now held by Don Scott, who grew up on the island.
"My mother got one of these when I was a kid, and she thought she had died and gone to heaven," he recalls.
Nearly a century later, this little shed and its stories may have a new lease on life thanks to community care and determination.
For anyone interested in learning more, getting involved, or helping relocate the shed, contact Bill on 0418 111 784.
