General News
25 July, 2025
Safe haven for women
A FIRST-of-its-kind creative sanctuary for women opens in Cairns this morning, marking a major milestone in grassroots community building, inclusion and connection.
She Shed Cairns is Queensland’s first purpose-built centre for women. It is a vibrant, volunteer-led space designed to combat social isolation and offer hands-on creative programs, wellness support and a place to belong.
Founder and operations manager Jane Mitchell said the idea stemmed from a powerful need she witnessed repeatedly in her personal and professional life.
Many women, she said, lack a place to gather, create and connect in meaningful ways.
“We’ve lost our modern-day river – the place we once gathered to wash our clothes, share stories and support each other. This is our way of bringing that back,” she said.
While years of planning and preparation came before it, the physical build of the centre has taken 18 months. All 200 membership spots were snapped up within 24 hours of opening and nearly 100 women are now on the waiting list. Ms Mitchell said the demand was overwhelming and undeniable.
Housed beneath a residential Queenslander, the centre’s unique model uses rent from the upstairs tenancy to help cover running costs. Downstairs, the She Shed is filled with colour, creativity and care. It features dedicated spaces for beading, soap making, sewing, mosaics, macramé, resin art, candle making, woodwork, felting, ceramic painting and more.
At the heart of the shed is a long community table where women can sit, share a cuppa and contribute to collaborative projects. These include assembling care packs for Wheels of Wellness, crafting enrichment mats for rescue dogs and decorating coffins for Tender Funerals.
“Some people come because they’re lonely. Others just want purpose, or something simple to do with their hands, with other people,” Ms Mitchell said. “It’s gentle, but it’s powerful.”
The project has become a shining example of what a community can achieve together. More than 50 local businesses and individuals contributed to the build. Major donations came from Bryant Constructions, KFB Engineers, Kilfoy Cabinets and Makita Australia. Cairns Airport donated funding to install an automated front door, while Cairns regional councillor Rob Pyne also supported the project, using his discretionary funds to cover the new parking and footpath at the front of the centre.
